The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)
can help you keep diabetes from being a family affair.
BY KALIA DONER
JUDITH FRADKIN, M.D., is a member of the NDEP executive committee
and director of the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
She is leading the charge to stop diabetes from damaging adults' and children's health
DIABETES FOCUS: How widespread is the risk of diabetes?
DR. FRADKIN: We know that nationally 57 million people have prediabetes, and
many of these individuals are not aware of it. We want to identify people with
prediabetes and to actively work to prevent it from turning into full-blown
type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have shown that modest changes in weight and
activity can dramatically reduce diabetes risk. We call this "Small Steps. Big Rewards."
DF: How do people know if they are at risk for prediabetes?
DR. F: The first thing is to find out if there is a history of diabetes in your family. Women
are at increased risk if they have had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing nine pounds or more. Some ethnic minorities, such as American Indians, African Americans, Latinos and Hispanics, are at increased risk, as are people who are obese or sedentary or have high
blood pressure.
DF: What is prediabetes?
DR. F: Prediabetes is characterized by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but
lower than levels that indicate diabetes. A person has prediabetes when glucose levels run
consistently between 100 and 120.
DF: Is prediabetes increasing?
DR. F: Yes, and there are a couple of reasons for that. First, the population is getting older
overall, and we know that about 20 percent of all older folks get diabetes. Second, we are
becoming an ever more sedentary society that doesn't always eat properly.
DF: Does prediabetes carry any of its own risks or complications?
DR. F: Absolutely. Prediabetes is often accompanied by high blood pressure and unhealthy
lipid levels. People with prediabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease,
although that risk is not as high as for those with diabetes. And some people with prediabetes
start to develop changes in the eye that are signs of early retinopathy. So prediabetes is
serious and risky too.
DF: What percentage of people who have prediabetes convert to full-blown
type 2 diabetes?
DR. F: In a study called the Diabetes Prevention Program, 11 percent of those with prediabetes developed type 2 each year. People with prediabetes who lost about 15 pounds reduced the
risk of diabetes by more than half, and some even reversed prediabetes and returned to
normal glucose levels.
DF: What about the phenomenon of children developing type 2?
DR. F: Now, what use to be a disease of adults is affecting teens after puberty. But if they
get diagnosed early and establish good glucose control, they can reap long-term benefits
not only from developing good health habits for the rest of their lives but also because the
body has a "metabolic memory" that keeps it on track when good habits are established
early on.
For more information on diabetes from the National Diabetes Education Program,
visit RemedyLife.com/NDEP
Information was taken from an article in the Summer 2009 issue of 'Diabetes Focus'
All links have been added by the blogger to direct consumer traffic to wellness products
that could be beneficial to ones health.
Eating Raw Contributes to Personal and Planetary Health
Eating raw foods is all the rage and has been gaining popularity at a remarkable momentum. The raw food diet participants claim they feel more energetic after eating meals and snacks that haven't been heated or cooked.
Who doesn't need more energy? Geez, gimme' some of that!
With all the talk and concern about our environment these days, let's take a look at how a raw diet can have a positive impact on our planet by lowering energy consumption. We all know it takes a lot of energy to heat and bake our food. Most stoves found in American homes use more electricity or gas than a washer and dryer combined. Plus, carbon dioxide levels increase when we cook and that has a negative impact on our planet.
Kitchen cleanup is kept to a minimum for those who eat raw and that means you're not using as much water to clean pots and pans and you're not adding chemical soaps to the environment. Every drop of water counts!
Packaged foods contribute to a large part of the landfills. When you eat foods like salads, seeds, fruits and vegetables, you are instantly reducing the amount of packaging that would normally be found in the dump. Just think about how much plastic wrap, cardboard boxes, trays and bags are being used to package processed foods. Eating raw will greatly benefit our environment and just about everything eaten by a raw foodie can be composted. Nothing ever has to go into the trash!
When eating raw, you will be improving your personal health as well as taking a huge burden off our planet. When purchasing organic foods that are grown in an environment free of petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers, you aren't exposing yourself to harmful chemicals that have been linked to a myriad of health defects and these foods have been minimally processed. Even better!
So eating raw foods is one of the best decision you can make, both for your personal health as well as the health of our planet.
Who doesn't need more energy? Geez, gimme' some of that!
With all the talk and concern about our environment these days, let's take a look at how a raw diet can have a positive impact on our planet by lowering energy consumption. We all know it takes a lot of energy to heat and bake our food. Most stoves found in American homes use more electricity or gas than a washer and dryer combined. Plus, carbon dioxide levels increase when we cook and that has a negative impact on our planet.
Kitchen cleanup is kept to a minimum for those who eat raw and that means you're not using as much water to clean pots and pans and you're not adding chemical soaps to the environment. Every drop of water counts!
Packaged foods contribute to a large part of the landfills. When you eat foods like salads, seeds, fruits and vegetables, you are instantly reducing the amount of packaging that would normally be found in the dump. Just think about how much plastic wrap, cardboard boxes, trays and bags are being used to package processed foods. Eating raw will greatly benefit our environment and just about everything eaten by a raw foodie can be composted. Nothing ever has to go into the trash!
When eating raw, you will be improving your personal health as well as taking a huge burden off our planet. When purchasing organic foods that are grown in an environment free of petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers, you aren't exposing yourself to harmful chemicals that have been linked to a myriad of health defects and these foods have been minimally processed. Even better!
So eating raw foods is one of the best decision you can make, both for your personal health as well as the health of our planet.
Got a Minute? 10 Quick and Simple Ways to Improve Your Health and Well-Being
1) Strengthen Your Thighs
Good balance, flexibility and endurance are all
based upon your lower body strength. Strengthening
your thighs will protect you against frailty during
your later years and will also boost fat burning.
Who doesn't want that?
2) Do a Posture Check
Good posture is important to your overall health
in many ways. In order for you to use your muscles
correctly, you need to keep your bones and joints in
proper alignment. The chances of injury and muscle
strain are greatly reduced when your body is properly
aligned, allowing your muscles to operate efficiently.
Unfortunately, the majority of people spend nearly
eight hours a day sitting and this is by far the biggest
predator for poor posture. Make sure you take the
time to investigate the correct way to sit and try to
get up often throughout the day.
3)Give Someone a Hug
You may not be aware of this, but there is a really
cool thing that happens when we hug someone! A
hormone called oxytocin is released and this little
guy is known as the 'feel-good' hormone. So go hug
someone special today! Spread the love!
4) Drink Water Often
At one time it was popular to try to guzzle 64 oz of
water in a day. Now I've been hearing from several
experts in the field that we should be drinking 1/2
our body weight in water per day. So, if you weigh
150 lbs, you should be drinking 75 oz of water per
day. Drinking water will help your metabolism
because when we are dehydrated, we are most likely
burning fewer calories each day. Add a few ice cubes
to burn more calories.
5) Reach Your Hands High and Stretch to the Sky
Not only does stretching feel good, studies show
it also helps prevent headaches and reduce pain.
Take a break every few hours during the day to
perform stretches that make your body feel good.
Your body will thank you!
6) Low on Vitamin D?
Feeling a bit sluggish these days? You may want
to have your doctor test your vitamin D levels. I
had mine taken recently and was surprised to find
out I needed to start taking supplements to the
tune of 2,000 IUs per day. I was also shocked to
discover all the diseases that can crop up from
not having enough vitamin D. When looking for a
supplement, I've been told to take vitamin D3.
7) Speed Walking
You can boost your calorie burn by 51% if you
just speed walk for 1-5 minutes during your workout.
You can do this any place and any time. Go get 'em!
8) Take Your Pulse
You want to make sure your pulse is between
60-80 beats per minute. You can do this any time
you have a spare moment. Anything above 80 beats
should be mentioned to the doctor.
9) Floss Your Teeth
Not only does flossing your teeth twice a day get
rid of decay-causing bacteria, but it also can
benefit your heart. Germs from the mouth can
enter your bloodstream and contribute to heart
blockages. Other studies indicate that periodontitis
can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.
10) Smooth Out Your Wrinkles with Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to be the wrinkle reducer. Try
eating just two clementines a day and you'll be
supplying your body with 96% of your daily needs.
Those mini-oranges are to die for!
Good balance, flexibility and endurance are all
based upon your lower body strength. Strengthening
your thighs will protect you against frailty during
your later years and will also boost fat burning.
Who doesn't want that?
2) Do a Posture Check
Good posture is important to your overall health
in many ways. In order for you to use your muscles
correctly, you need to keep your bones and joints in
proper alignment. The chances of injury and muscle
strain are greatly reduced when your body is properly
aligned, allowing your muscles to operate efficiently.
Unfortunately, the majority of people spend nearly
eight hours a day sitting and this is by far the biggest
predator for poor posture. Make sure you take the
time to investigate the correct way to sit and try to
get up often throughout the day.
3)Give Someone a Hug
You may not be aware of this, but there is a really
cool thing that happens when we hug someone! A
hormone called oxytocin is released and this little
guy is known as the 'feel-good' hormone. So go hug
someone special today! Spread the love!
4) Drink Water Often
At one time it was popular to try to guzzle 64 oz of
water in a day. Now I've been hearing from several
experts in the field that we should be drinking 1/2
our body weight in water per day. So, if you weigh
150 lbs, you should be drinking 75 oz of water per
day. Drinking water will help your metabolism
because when we are dehydrated, we are most likely
burning fewer calories each day. Add a few ice cubes
to burn more calories.
5) Reach Your Hands High and Stretch to the Sky
Not only does stretching feel good, studies show
it also helps prevent headaches and reduce pain.
Take a break every few hours during the day to
perform stretches that make your body feel good.
Your body will thank you!
6) Low on Vitamin D?
Feeling a bit sluggish these days? You may want
to have your doctor test your vitamin D levels. I
had mine taken recently and was surprised to find
out I needed to start taking supplements to the
tune of 2,000 IUs per day. I was also shocked to
discover all the diseases that can crop up from
not having enough vitamin D. When looking for a
supplement, I've been told to take vitamin D3.
7) Speed Walking
You can boost your calorie burn by 51% if you
just speed walk for 1-5 minutes during your workout.
You can do this any place and any time. Go get 'em!
8) Take Your Pulse
You want to make sure your pulse is between
60-80 beats per minute. You can do this any time
you have a spare moment. Anything above 80 beats
should be mentioned to the doctor.
9) Floss Your Teeth
Not only does flossing your teeth twice a day get
rid of decay-causing bacteria, but it also can
benefit your heart. Germs from the mouth can
enter your bloodstream and contribute to heart
blockages. Other studies indicate that periodontitis
can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.
10) Smooth Out Your Wrinkles with Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to be the wrinkle reducer. Try
eating just two clementines a day and you'll be
supplying your body with 96% of your daily needs.
Those mini-oranges are to die for!