In the midst of giving thanks and eating turkey dinners,
November is also known as Diabetes Awareness Month. Type 2 diabetes is
the most common form of diabetes. Dr. Janice Key, co-chairwoman of the
S.C. Medical Association Childhood Obesity Taskforce, answers common
questions about type 2 diabetes.
Q: How is type 2 diabetes different from type 1 diabetes?
A: Diabetes
mellitus is a disease that causes high blood sugar (glucose) due to a
problem with the sugar controlling hormone, insulin. There are two types
of diabetes: one in which there is not enough insulin produced by the
pancreas (type 1) and one in which there is plenty of insulin but the
body is “resistant” to it and is unable to use it normally (type 2).
Q: Who is at risk?
A: Being
overweight or obese carries the greatest risk for developing type 2,
however, the risk is not the same for all people. If your parents or
grandparents have type 2 diabetes, you should be especially careful to
keep your weight in a healthy range as you might have a genetic
predisposition to obesity-related type 2 diabetes.
Q: What are the consequences?
A: The
high blood sugar caused by diabetes coats the lining of blood vessels
throughout the body, causing those blood vessels to become clogged,
damaging every organ in the body. Over time, this can result in kidney
failure (requiring dialysis), poor circulation in the legs (requiring
amputation), blindness, stroke and heart attacks.
Q: How do I know if I have type 2 diabetes?
A: Diabetes
has such a gradual effect that people usually can’t “feel” it
happening. Some symptoms, such as lack of energy and fatigue, are so
nonspecific that people don’t think of diabetes. In fact, undiagnosed
diabetes can even cause a “silent heart attack”. The only real way to
find out if you have diabetes is to get tested.
Q: Can eating healthy and exercising really prevent type 2 diabetes?
A: Yes,
the good news is that you can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by
eating a healthy diet and exercising to keep your weight in the healthy
range. In fact, sometimes even people who already have type 2 diabetes
can get their blood sugars back under control simply by losing weight
and exercising. Avoiding sugary, high glycemic foods can help by
lowering the high peaks of blood glucose. Getting down to a healthy
weight helps by improving insulin resistance. Exercise helps by
temporarily reducing insulin resistance. Healthy food and exercise are
the best medicine for diabetes.
Q: Can children become a type 2 diabetic?
A: Yes,
unfortunately more and more children and adolescents are developing
type 2 diabetes. As recently as 30 years ago that was not the case. In
the 1970s children never had type 2 diabetes (except for the rare child
taking high doses of steroid medication). Today, type 2 diabetes is the
most common type of diabetes in children. What the difference? Today’s
children are overweight and obese. Our children are developing type 2
diabetes simply because they are obese.
Q: What are three foods a diabetic should avoid?
A: People
with diabetes should avoid simple carbohydrates and fatty foods. Three
examples of specific foods that a person with diabetes should NEVER eat
are candy, sugar sweetened drinks (soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks and
iced tea) and ice cream. The best approach is to seek personalized
advice from your physician, who may also refer you to a registered
dietician. The American Diabetes Association has lots of recipes at
their website www.diabetes.org.
Q: What foods would you recommend for a diabetic-friendly Thanksgiving feast?
A: Fortunately,
many of the best foods on the Thanksgiving table are good for us!
Roasted turkey is very healthy, just don’t eat the skin and limit the
amount of gravy. Try cranberry relish made with a sugar substitute. Eat
all the green beans you want, just not in a fatty, heavy casserole with
fried onions on top (you know the one!). And of course, eat fruit for
dessert, not pie and ice cream. Enjoy the meal and end the Thanksgiving
celebration by getting out for a walk!
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