November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes mellitus, as it’s officially known, actually manifests itself in a few ways. One of these manners is known as Type 2 Diabetes.
Of the estimated 23.6 million people in the US (7.8%) who have been diagnosed with diabetes, approximately 17.9 million (90%) are cases of type 2 diabetes. What was once referred to as ‘adult onset diabetes,’ is now being increasingly observed in children. Much of this has been attributed to rising obesity rates of children and sedentary lifestyles.
Symptoms include: chronic fatigue, weakness and malaise, excessive urination and thirst, blurred vision, unexplainable weight loss and lethargy.
Three factors which significantly raise the risk of getting type 2 diabetes, or making it worse, are obesity, hypertension, or elevated cholesterol. This means that having a diet that includes a lot of fatty and sugary foods, or having a very sedentary lifestyle can heighten your risk of acquiring this particular type of diabetes. In fact, over half of type 2 patients are obese when they are diagnosed.
Type 2 differs from type 1 in that there is a problem with the body cells response to insulin, rather than the production of insulin. Initially, type 2 diabetes can be treated by changing the patient’s diet and exercise habits. Diet is controlled to limit glucose intake, which is not necessarily related to sugar.
If you are concerned you might have diabetes mellitus, contact your personal health care practitioner immediately. If you have been diagnosed, check out the diabetes section in our catalog for products that can help you maintain your diabetes.
Monthly Archives: November 2010
Simplicity is the New Sophistication (“7 Nutrition Trends of 2010”)
Looking at one of the recent “7 Nutrition Trends of 2010” we can see that the simpler things in life are
quickly becoming popular in a big way. With a populace turning away from ingredient lists that would
make a chemist blush, and looking for simpler, less obtrusive packaging, we can expect meals to look
more natural and healthier for those eating them.
So how do you find simpler foods? It’s all in the food label. Knowing how to properly read a food label is
a key ingredient in making good food choices, and understanding just what choices you’re making.
Things like serving sizes and servings per container can be awfully surprising when you take a closer
look. Just how many servings are you drinking when you drink that 20 oz bottle of soda? That’s right,
you’ve just doubled every number on that food label, and that’s not a good thing. Knowing your servings
is a big deal.
Listing all the nutrients (or sometimes lack thereof) is helpful, but keep in mind that percentages come
in big here. All the numbers are based on a 2000 calorie diet, so you might have to alter those numbers
if your diet is slightly different than that.
The ingredients list can be one of the most intimidating factors on the food label. Trying to stay away
from added sugars and sodium is hard when you can’t possibly memorize all of the different types there
are.
Grabbing a handout that covers food label basics can go a long way towards finding simplicity in your
diet. If it looks anything like our “Breaking Down the Food Label” handout, then it’ll probably help out a
lot. Get a closer look here! http://www.ncescatalog.com/shopexd.asp?id=536&bc=no
Six Picks: The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes
1. Know the symptoms. Thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, constant tiredness, unexplained
weight loss and irritability are possible indicators of the onset of diabetes. Make sure to pay
attention and talk to your doctor if any of these symptoms persist.
2. The sooner you detect it, the better. The longer your body is exposed to uncontrolled blood sugar
levels, the greater the health problems can become. If you’re over the age of 45, it’s recommended
to have a fasting blood glucose test every three years.
3. Proper diet can save lives. With diabetes, it’s supremely important to keep your blood glucose
levels the closest to normal as possible. Proper meals can help maintain these levels and keep the
body from going into shock.
4. Work things out. Proper exercise can go a long way towards the prevention of diabetes, as well as
help maintain proper blood sugar levels too. Keep active for at least 30 minutes a day to help the
body regulate its blood glucose.
5. Know your risk factor. Anyone can develop diabetes over the course of their life, but certain people
have a higher risk than others. Being over 45, overweight or obese, a diagnosis of
pre-diabetes, having low HDL readings, or people with a family history of diabetes are
more likely to develop diabetes.
6. Diabetes is often preventable. A good combination of steady diet and exercise goes a long way in the
prevention of diabetes. Lowering the amount of added sugars in your diet can also help keep this
epidemic from affecting your life.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or think you may have it, contact your doctor immediately. Also, check out our large selection of diabetes education products here. http://www.ncescatalog.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=17&cat=Diabetes
Diabetes Defined – Type 1 Diabetes
November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes mellitus, as it’s officially known, actually manifests itself
in a few ways. One of these manners is known as Type 1 Diabetes.
Also known as juvenile diabetes, this is caused by the autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the
pancreas that produce insulin. The only proven way to treat this type of diabetes is by receiving
injections of insulin. However, most people who have type 1 diabetes are usually healthy otherwise.
Unfortunately, type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease, and although it’s easily treatable, it is un-curable so
far. With the proper education and awareness, a person with diabetes can live a full and productive life,
with little-to-no-interference from their condition.
The injections of insulin can be rough for some people, and many times complications are associated
with the balance of insulin in the system. Low blood sugar can cause seizures or unconsciousness, often
resulting in hospitalization. Having high blood sugar can have long term damaging effects to other
organs, such as the eyes and joints, as well as making the patient feel constantly tired.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are: frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, and rapid
weight loss.
Some of the complications that can arise from poorly-managed cases of type 1 diabetes include heart
disease, diabetic neuropathy (damage to the nervous system), and diabetic retinopathy (damage to the
retina) which can eventually lead to blindness.
If you are concerned you might have diabetes mellitus, contact your personal health care practitioner.
If you have already been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, see our catalog, or visist www.ncescatalog.com for a complete list of resources and tools that will help you live with Type 1 Diabetes.
Six Picks: The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Fat
1. Fat isn’t just fat. There are four types of fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, and
trans fat, which means it’s important to distinguish which are good and which are bad for you.
2. Don’t eliminate fat from your diet. While fats and oils should be consumed sparingly, they
shouldn’t be taken out of your diet. Fats and oils provide the body with energy, insulation, help with
healthy skin and hair, and help absorb fat-soluble vitamins that are essential for good health.
3. Some fats are good for you. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are comprised of omega-3
and omega-6 fatty acids found in fish such as herring, salmon, mackerel and trout. Getting three to
four 3 ounce servings of these fish a week can help prevent diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
4. Saturated fat is not your friend. Saturated fats are found in animal-based foods like fatty meats,
cheese, butter, whole milk, coconuts, and palm oils. Too many of these fats will lead to heart
disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. These also contribute to heart disease, hypertension and
strokes.
5. Trans fat is a no-go. Trans fat can be found in fat that was once liquid at room temperature, but
then made solid by hydrogenization. You can find this type of fat in bakery goods, fried foods, and
prepackaged, processed foods.
6. Know how much is enough. Keep your fat consumption to less than 30% of your total calories. If
you stick to a 2,000 calorie diet, than you should probably be getting around 65 grams of fat, 20% of
that being from mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and the other 10% from saturated fats. With trans
fat, stick to less than 1% whenever possible.
Remember, there are a lot of misconceptions about fat. Check out our catalog, or visit us at www.ncescatalog.com to find resources to help you learn more about fat.
Six Picks: The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Smart Carbs
1. Know your simple carbs. Sucrose, fructose, and lactose are all simple carbohydrates, and are comprised mostly of simple sugars. It’s generally not essential to have a large amount of simple carbs in your diet.
2. Know your complex carbs. Made of starch and fibers, they’re often referred to as whole grains. They can be found in whole wheat flour, rolled oats, barley, rye, and brown rice among other foods. These can help reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
3. Smart Carbs are essential for exercise and function. The majority of energy you use on a daily basis comes from the carbohydrates you consume. Not just for running, biking and swimming, carbs also give your body the energy for essential functions like your heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.
4. Smart carbs provide a way for you to consume fewer calories. Put simply, most foods that have not been processed are going to
contain fewer calories. So, when looking at carbs, try to find the least processed sources. For example, eating cooked oatmeal rather than an oatmeal cookie is always a good idea.
5. Simple carbs mean more than simplicity. When fiber is removed from food, with fat and sugar being added, the calories skyrocket while nutrition values plummet. Plus, the low nutrient density means that you’ll be eating more, just to feel full.
6. Incorporate Smart Carbs into meals and snacks. Try adding complex carbs to your regular meals and snacks. Instead of chips, try whole grain crackers, or whole grain versions of breads and cereals. Carrot sticks and fruit also contain smart carbs, and provide a much better choice than other carb-filled foods.
For more tips on eating ‘Smart Carbs”, check out Item # 2939 (ADA Complete Guide to Carb Counting) in our catalog or online at www.ncescatalog.com.
Diabetes Defined
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. This is a very important subject and we are looking forward to tackling different diabetes issues through our blog throughout the month!
Diabetes, whose official name is Diabetes Mellitus, is where a person finds themselves with a high blood sugar level, mainly due to one of two problems. Either the body isn’t producing enough insulin, or the cells in the body aren’t properly responding to the insulin that is being produced. Insulin is the hormone that the body produces to turn blood sugar (or glucose) into energy. With diabetes cases, not only is the body not producing energy from the glucose, but that same lack of reaction also causes the glucose to accumulate in the blood, which leads to vascular and nerve problems.
There are different types of diabetes, though the most common types are:
Type 1 diabetes: Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, which requires the person to inject insulin for its required amounts.
Type 2 diabetes: Results from insulin resistance, which is a condition in which the body’s cells fail to use insulin properly, and is sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.
Gestational diabetes: When pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may also precede development of type 2 diabetes.
There are a couple ways to control Type 2 diabetes. One way is to follow what’s called the ‘Exchange System.’ With this system, foods are divided into six basic groups according to the calories they contain and where those particular calories come from. Foods are interchangeable within these groups and are balanced to control a person’s diabetes.
The other popular way to control your diabetes is to count the number of carbohydrate grams you consume, which then come with a prescribed number of insulin units that are provided by a registered dietitian or diabetes educator.
For more tips, check out our diabetes section here.
NCES HealthBeat Blog 