BASSETERRE St. Kitts, August 13th 2012 - The rate of developing diabetes has increased by 700 percent in the last five decades. Unfortunately there are more than 366 million people that currently have diabetes in the world and another 300 million at risk according to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) statistics.
Healthy lifestyle factors that include diet, regular physical exercise, avoiding tobacco and maintaining a normal body weight can prevent, delay and even treat the effects of the most common causes of diabetes.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of 50 percent of preventable death associated with diabetes. It is estimated that people that have type 2 diabetes can expect to shorten their life 5-10 years on average. The younger the diagnosis, the greater the amount of years lost.
Type 2 diabetes also increases the risk of suffering a stroke. Statistics show that an individual is two to four times more likely with the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Strokes also occur twice as often when combined with high blood pressure.
75 percent of diabetics have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often associated with overall body weight, physical activity levels and quality of one’s diet.
Pregnancy Complications
Gestational diabetes is also on the rise. Poorly controlled blood sugar prior to conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause serious damage to the unborn child. Gestational diabetes can cause major birth defects in 5 to 10 percent of pregnancies, and spontaneous abortions in 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies
Blindness
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 65 years throughout the world. It is estimated that more than 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by it. 74 percent of people who have diabetes for 10 years or more will develop damage to their eyes.
Unfortunately one’s blood sugar level and diabetes status is often unknown until permanent, irreversible damage occurs. Do not wait until tragedy occurs, take action.
Kidney Failure
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Diabetic kidney disease occurs in approximately one third of all people with diabetes. Diabetes is a long-term condition and kidney failure usually occurs after 20-30 years of uncontrolled diabetes.
If you smoke, stop today! Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of progression by 30 percent.
Control Your Blood Sugar
- Achieve and maintain healthy body weight.
- Be physically active – three to four days of high intensity, short duration activity.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eliminate sugar and processed food items.
- Avoid tobacco use – smoking increases the risk of death.
- Reduce and eliminate stress.
Nutrition
We experience the power of nutrients every day. If we choose poor choices we can see the impact they have on our energy levels, immunity, weight, sleep patterns, blood sugar and how we overall feel. When we place quality nutrients in the body, the body knows how to absorb and assimilate it. The proper nutrients will enhance how our body is able to respond to stress, manage blood sugar levels and will help eliminate diabetes.
To prevent or reverse diabetes -- reduce sugar intake, eliminate processed food items, reduce portion size and increase consumption of vegetables.
This column is directed by your questions, comments and inquiries. The health advice provided is in collaboration with the World Health Organisation's and the International Diabetes Federation’s goals of prevention, maintenance and natural treatment of disease. The advice is for educational purposes and does not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Visit their websites: www.who.int www.idf.org
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