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By CategoryAdult Onset Diabetes
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Adult Onset DiabetesFact and Fiction
2005-08-07
Article Written by: Risa
Every 25 seconds in the U.S. someone is realizing the devastating effects of a careless diet and lifestyle. That’s how often an American is diagnosed with Type II, or Adult Onset Diabetes. It accounts for 90% of the cases of diabetes and is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
Type II is, simply put, insulin resistance. Although the pancreas is producing insulin, the body fails to recognize it and it is then unable to function effectively. As blood sugar levels elevate, overproduction of insulin starts to act as a toxin to the rest of the body. AOD increases the danger of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and other alarming medical conditions.
Unlike Type I, or Juvenile Diabetes, development of AOD is not based exclusively on genetics. Granted family history of it will augment your chances but anyone can contract this ailment. Actually, Adult Onset Diabetes, in its very terminology, is misleading, since it is being discovered in more and more young children. People at an increased chance for this life altering disease are those with high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Statistics also show that the majority of newly diagnosed Type II diabetics are overweight. In fact, weight and diet are the two biggest concerns in avoiding this malady.
The common idea is that consuming too much sugar instigates diabetes. Research can give no substantiated evidence of this claim. Realistically, increased intake of sugars simply leads to weight gain, which in turn puts you in greater jeopardy. Involve yourself in some type of activity a few times a week to manage your weight. (Can’t think of anything to do? Check out our events calendar!) Keeping trim will dramatically diminish your chances. Also highly recommended are stress management techniques, yoga or meditation.
Adjusting your diet can seriously decrease the possibility of this disorder. Shoving yourself into a strictly regimented diet all at once might drive you crazy. Basically, just be smart. One simple suggested change is to choose whole grains and whole grain products over highly processed carbohydrates.
An increasing amount of evidence links moderate alcohol consumption with Type II prevention. Keep in mind, no one is encouraging alcoholism, hence the word moderate. Still, finally some good news for those of us who enjoy our cocktails.
Speaking of cherished beverages that carry a bad reputation, some positive words for java junkies as well. Several extensive studies illustrate drastic reduction of this syndrome in coffee drinkers. Compared to those who snubbed a few cups of joe, people who drank 6 or more cups per day displayed astounding reduction in threat of AOD.
While I’m not advocating ingesting nothing more than large quantities of coffee, whiskey and wheat toast, these facts can be positive considerations when adjusting your day to day diet. You may not need to suffer withdrawals from all the products you find irresistible.
Anyone with a high risk or everyone over the age of 45 should ask a doctor to test for diabetes. If you can manage your diet and lifestyle well, it won’t become more than routine testing.
