Diabetes – Are we all at Risk

Diabetes – Are we all at Risk?

Diabetes Mellitus (a.k.a Type II Diabetes or Late on-set Diabetes) is currently the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the US and the number of people afflicted is increasing at the rate of 6% annually. At this rate, the number of people with diabetes will double every 15 years. Strongly associated with Western lifestyle and diet, diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which carbohydrates, fats and proteins are inadequately metabolized. Diabetes related problems do not just effect the aging and obese anymore. More of the population is seeing the effects of this disease.

Are many of us at risk?

  • Here are the Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus:
      ? Excess sugar consumption
      ? Lack of fiber
      ? Excess Iron
      ? Obesity
      ? Genetics
      ? Toxins
      ? Autoimmunity
      ? Viral

    • The risk factors show that diet, genetics and environment can greatly add to the risk of developing diabetes. Unfortunately, our ‘convenient’, fast-paced, and tech savvy society is not conducive to a healthy diet and routine of regular exercise. The volume of sugar we consume is disastrous to our health. We hear this over and over again, but we resist the reality of the situation. Our sugar filled diets are causing health problems from obesity to stroke, in great numbers.

    Genetics also play a distinctive role. The prevalence of DM is particularly high in ethnic minorities in the US, such as African-American, Hispanic and Native American populations, and African-Americans have about 1.3 times the risk compared to the average population.

    How to know if you have Diabetes

  • First, be aware of the warning signs. They include:
      ? Excess urination
      ? Vaginal itching
      ? Multiple, large, hyperpigmented skin tags
      ? Excessive hunger
      ? Visual changes
      ? Fatigue
      ? Poor wound healing
      ? Chronic candida infections
      ? Weight loss

    • If you see warning signs, consult a doctor. A doctor may run tests to determine your fasting blood glucose levels, thyroid levels, fructosamine levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. The may do a hair analysis for mineral content or do an Oral Glucose Insulin tolerance Test to diagnose the degree of DM.

    What is Best to do?

    The ideal situation is to prevent the onset of diabetes. This can be done by:
      ? Quit smoking
      ? Get regular aerobic exercise
      ? Eat a diet low in saturated fat and high in fish, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds
      ? Maintain your optimal body weight
      ? Eliminate sugar intake
      ? Avoid coffee
      ? Practicing good stress management

    There are nutritional and botanical supplements that can be taken to prevent or treat diabetes, but it is important to consult a skilled physician to get the correct combination of these supplements for your specific health situation.

    Stress management If we perceive certain events in our lives as stressful, if this perception is extended over time and we have not learned to cope with it, stress will eventually produce outward manifestations in our health such as hypoglycemia and diabetes. Many simple techniques can be effective in managing our stress and reducing its bad influence such as yoga, massage, prayer, exercise, hypnotherapy or deep breathing.

    Be Well and Be Happy!

    This article was written by Dr. Ave Sims ND, as a patient education resource for The Center For True Harmony Wellness and Medicine. Edited and revised by Sherry VanGoethem, Dr.Christine Brass-Jones OBGYN, and Dr. Denise Quance Grobe N.D. If you have any questions or comments contact the office at (480) 539-6646 or through email at info@trueharmonywellness.com