How to Reduce the Risk of Developing Diabetes

benchi

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Diet only
Diabetes mellitus is perhaps the most alarming of the medical problems in the developed world. Notwithstanding all the efforts of diabetes experts and diabetes researchers, the problem is becoming even worse, with increasing numbers of people being diagnosed as suffering from diabetes mellitus each and every year.

Some researcher maintain that up to 10% of people in the USA have diabetes, and many of these poor people are unaware of the fact! Moreover, for many of these poor people, it may well have been avoidable if they had known about earlier in their lives.

The most important danger in the diabetes problem is ignorance of the problem amongst those who are at risk.

If you believe that you could be in a high risk group, it is sensible to get as much information as you can about the main types of diabetes, the most important symptoms to watch out for, what you can do to decrease the threat of diabetes, and what the key diabetes management techniques are. Additionally, if you are expectant, you need to learn about the dangers of gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes which can be present in up to one in four pregnant women.

Although Type 1 diabetes is quite uncommon, Type 2 diabetes is approaching crisis point in the US, with other nations following on behind. Diabetes Type 2 used to be called "adult-onset" diabetes, but in the present day this expression is not really appropriate as overweight teens in the United States are becoming diabetic at a rapid rate.

In these examples of diabetes in kids, most diabetes specialists think that modern-day teenager's daily food intake, (which has really unhealthy levels of refined carbs), is to blame as it can result in insulin resistance, and that can cause type 2 diabetes.

Irrespective of the fact that the true cause is unknown, what we know is that diabetes is a serious illness, it cannot be cured at the moment, and it can bring about long term health risks.

The quickest approach to lessen the chance of getting diabetes mellitus is to take up a healthy way of life.

If you adhere to the advice listed below, you will decrease the chances of getting diabetes, and if you already have it, minimize the damage that it may lead to.

1. Pattern of eating.
It may well seem evident, but if you eat sensibly then you are in a better position than individuals who eat badly.

Experts give advice to people who are at risk of diabetes that if they don't want to develop this disease they should:
* Eat more fruit and vegetables particularly those that are low in carbohydrates.
* Enjoy more whole grain foods like lentils, beans and grains.
* Consume more lean protein foods, like turkey and fish.

2. Lose Weight.
Being too fat is also a considerable issue for those who are prone to diabetes mellitus. Diabetes specialists say that individuals who are heavy have a far larger chance of contracting diabetes as it can be the cause of high resistance to insulin.

3. Keep Fit.
Many diabetes specialists believe that those who have a regular exercise program have a much reduced likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus. For additional background, try searching for a web site where they discuss the benefits of keeping fit for diabetics in some detail.

4. Drinking and Smoking
Drinking and smoking are also quite dangerous for those who are prone to diabetes. It is not that smoking and drinking alcohol lead to diabetes, but that they affect the same parts of the body.

In truth, most of these guidelines are sound advice for people who are not diabetic too.

What is also important is the fact that if you go by the strategy discussed here, you will not only lower the odds of contracting diabetes, but also improve other aspects of your health and reduce the risk of heart disease at the same time.
 

Pipp

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
10,668
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
@benchi
Most of the members here already have diabetes. Many of us with T2 arrived at that by following guidelines such as those you suggest here.
@daisy1 posts info for new members.

I would like to say welcome to you, but I am not welcoming your introductory post. Sorry.
 
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Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,939
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
@benchi

A lot of your information is outdated and some of it is totally wrong.
You are preaching to the converted!

The epidemic is ignored by those in power. Even the health industry give out really poor advice to these 'poor' sufferers. I am not 'poor' or a sufferer.
I have control of my condition! It is not a disease! People die from other things connected to diabetes if it is ignored or the wrong treatment is given.

Read around the forum, read threads about success stories, read about diabetics who have great lives, and live normal lives.
 
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zand

Master
Messages
10,789
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
It would be good too if you could read about insulin resistance and leptin resistance, then you might understand obesity a bit better.

Welcome to the forum :)
 
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Pipp

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
10,668
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
If the responses so far seem a bit harsh, @benchi, why not introduce yourself and have a read of some of the info in the forums. I am sure you will gain better insight, and perhaps you are searching for info and support?

Best wishes
Pipp
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@benchi

Here is the information we give to new members which is much appreciated by newly diagnosed diabetics. I hope you will find it helpful in your understanding of diabetes.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 140,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.