Your Health: Skip the sugary snacks, avoid getting diabetes

Got a sweet tooth? Many people do. It’s hard to resist the
sight of one’s favorite foods, drinks and treats ““
especially after a long day at school or work.

But before picking up a donut to snack on, consider one future
consequence of that donut ““ diabetes.

There are three major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2
diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Regardless of the type of
diabetes an individual may have, the initial symptoms of the three
types of diabetes are similar.

These include increased frequency of urination, increased
thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss.

As the prevalence of obesity increases in the United States, so
has the dreaded disease of diabetes. There is a strong correlation
between obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or use insulin
efficiently. Insulin is a hormone that is needed for the proper
storage and utilization of sugar, starches and other foods.

The deficiency or decreased efficacy of insulin raises the
body’s blood sugar levels. Chronically elevated blood sugar
levels affect the blood vessels and over time can cause many
long-term complications such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness,
kidney failure, impotence, injury to the nerves, and infections
that may require amputations.

In addition, diabetes during pregnancy can cause problems for
the baby such as heart defects and delayed lung maturity.

The development of diabetes can be caused by factors such as the
lack of exercise, obesity and diet.

Genetics may also contribute to the disease’s development
as diabetics often have mothers, fathers or siblings with
diabetes.

While diabetes occurs in individuals from all age groups and
ethnicities, some groups have a higher risk of developing the
disease than others.

For reasons still hypothesized, diabetes is more common in
Native Americans, blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans, Pacific
Islanders and the elderly.

Individuals with diabetes are prone to skin infections ““
such as unsightly skin infections resulting from an accidental nick
to the skin when shaving or after stubbing one’s toe. In
addition, women with diabetes may suffer from frequent yeast
infections and urinary tract infections.

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of Americans who are diagnosed
with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes since
most patients with type 1 diabetes acquire the disease before or
during their teen years.

Ninety to 95 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have
type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Most type 2 diabetics
acquire the disease during their adult years. There is a
correlation between type 2 diabetes and a lack of exercise or
dietary indiscretion.

When bodies are exposed to chronically elevated levels of
glucose ““ carbohydrates in sugar ““ they produce lots of
insulin. Over time, the body develops insulin resistance. Thus,
insulin becomes less effective and diabetes ensues.

Gestational diabetes is the development of diabetes during
pregnancy, sometimes caused by a compound secreted from the growing
placenta.

However, a woman with gestational diabetes may be at increased
risk for acquiring type 2 diabetes later in life.

It is mostly caused by the growing placenta, which produces a
compound that impedes the workings of insulin.

Diagnosis of diabetes depends on drawing a blood sample and
measuring blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetics are treated with daily insulin injections. Type
2 diabetics usually begin treatment with increased exercise and a
change in diet ““ more fruits and vegetables, and lean meats
high in protein.

If the combination of diet and exercise does not control blood
sugar levels, doctors can prescribe oral medications.

Patients with blood sugar levels resistant to treatment with
diet, exercise and oral medications may require daily insulin
shots.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes who can apply dietary
discretion to their daily lives and are able to achieve good
glucose control do not need insulin. Those who are unable to
control their sugar levels through changes in diet require insulin
injections. Oral medications are not given to pregnant women
because of the drug’s ability to cross the placenta and harm
the fetus.

While it may be difficult to adhere to a diet involving complete
abstinence from sugary treats, we should exercise dietary
discretion and limit the intake of certain foods of which we
sometimes indulge.

When patients take ownership of their disease to learn all they
can about the illness, commit to reasonable diet and exercise
programs, and work side-by-side with doctors in the management of
their diabetes, the complications of diabetes can be minimized.

If you notice that you are experiencing symptoms consistent with
diabetes, you should make an appointment to see a physician at the
Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center. For more
information on diabetes, please visit the web site for the American
Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.