Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes, already a huge health problem, is increasingly rapidly. More than 1.4 million people in the UK are known to have diabetes and even more people in the UK have diabetes but don't even know it!
In Diabetes the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is abnormally high because the body's method of converting glucose into energy is not functioning correctly. A hormone called insulin, made by the pancreas gland, controls the amount of glucose in our blood. Insulin helps glucose enter body cells where it is used as fuel for all the body's metabolic processes.
After we eat, blood glucose levels rise and insulin is released into the blood, allowing glucose to enter the cells where it is needed. When the blood glucose level falls (e.g. during exercise), the level of insulin falls. Glucose levels in the blood that are too high or too low can cause health complications. Insulin, therefore, plays a vital role in regulating the level of blood glucose and, in particular, stopping blood glucose from rising too high.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant diabetes) develops when there is a lack of insulin in the body because most or all of the cells in the pancreas that produce it have been destroyed. The most likely cause of this is an abnormal reaction of the body to the cells that may be triggered by a viral or other infection. This type of diabetes usually appears in people of both sexes under the age of 40, often in childhood. Type 1 diabetes develops quickly, usually over a few weeks, and the unwitting patient presents acutely unwell, with a short history increased thirst (polydypsia), excessive urine production (polyuria) and sudden weight loss. People with Type 1 diabetes need injections of insulin for the rest of their lives and also need to eat a healthy diet that contains the right balance of foods. Usually, between two and four injections of insulin are required each day to stop symptoms, enable a healthy life, and avoid complications.
Type 2 diabetes (non insulin dependant diabetes) develops when the body can still produce some insulin, though not enough for its needs, or when the body no longer responds normally to its own insulin. The most common cause of this is overweight and obesity. Type 2 diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, although it is increasingly appearing in younger, obese, people. The best form of treatment of type 2 diabetes is to achieve 5-10% of body weight loss. Many can thereafter be successfully treated by diet alone. But for the others a combination of diet and medication, or a combination of diet and insulin injections may be required. Type 2 diabetes develops slowly and the symptoms are usually less severe than in type 1; in fact the most common symptom is simply "tiredness" and the diagnosis can go unnoticed for months or even years. Some people may not notice any symptoms at all and others put the symptoms down to 'getting older' or 'overwork', their diabetes only being discovered at a routine medical check up.
People who are overweight are particularly likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 90% of new type 2 diabetics are overweight. Just as importantly though, reducing body weight by only 10% can reduce the chance of developing diabetes by up to 44%. It tends to run in families and is more common in Asian and African-Caribbean communities.
In attempting to lose weight, people with type 2 diabetes need to eat a healthy diet that contains the right balance of foods, in the right portions. If this is not enough to keep blood glucose levels normal, medication may also be required of which there are several types. The first drug your doctor may choose should be "metformin" which can reduce blood sugar without the problem of weight gain encountered with other diabetic drugs. However some patients have difficulty with this medication. Alternatives include some which help the pancreas to produce more insulin (eg. sulphonylureas) while others help the body to make better use of the insulin that the pancreas does produce (eg. glitazones). Another type of tablet slows down the speed at which the body absorbs glucose from the intestine (ascarbose).
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
•Increased thirst
•Frequent trips to the toilet - especially at night
•Extreme tiredness
•Weight loss
•Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
•Blurred vision.
In both types of diabetes, the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems.
Health Consequences of diabetes
Diabetes is an illness that needs to be taken very seriously and treated accordingly. Diabetics have a higher chance of developing certain serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, and damage to the kidneys and eyes. The risk is particularly high for people with diabetes who are also very overweight, have high blood pressure, who smoke or who are not physically active. The risk of developing any of these complications can be reduced by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and by eating healthily and regular physical activity. Some changes to lifestyles are required but by sticking to prescribed treatment, monitoring the condition and following a generally healthy diet, allows most diabetics to be able to continue a normal day-to-day life and take part in the activities they have always enjoyed. Here are is some general advice:
Have regular medical check-ups - In the last 10 to 20 years, the care for people with diabetes has improved dramatically. One of the most important developments has been improved methods of screening, which helps doctors to pick up any health problems at an early stage so they can be treated more successfully.
Eat healthy - regular portion controlled meals based on starchy foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and cereals helps control blood glucose levels. Cut down on fat, particularly saturated (animal) fats, as this type of fat is linked to heart disease. Choose monounsaturated fats, e.g. olive oil. Grill, steam or oven bake instead of frying or cooking with oil or other fats. Eat more fruit and vegetables, aiming for at least five portions a day to provide you with vitamins and fibre as well as to help you balance your overall diet. Cut down on sugar and sugary foods and use less salt, because a high intake of salt can raise your blood pressure. Alcohol should be drunk in moderation only, two units of alcohol per day for a woman and three units per day for a man. Alcohol can make hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels) more likely to occur.
Stop smoking - Smoking, harmful in any circumstances, is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes as it greatly increases the chance of developing a serious health problem. If you smoke, it is very important that you quit now.
Physical activity - It is a good idea to take up some form of regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, dancing or cycling. Not only will it reduce your risk of developing diabetes, if you already have the condition it can improve your overall control. You may need to consult your doctor or diabetes nurse before taking up any regular exercise, particularly if you are overweight.
The Diet Plate and Diabetes - Doctors on both sides of the Atlantic and in other parts of the world are increasingly recognising the importance of portion control in the treatment of diabetes are recommending their patients use The Diet Plate. The Diet Plate is not only proven to help users lose weight, it remains the only portion control plate clinically proven to help in the management of diabetics. This ground-breaking work was done by Dr Sue Pederson of the University of Calgary, Canada and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2007. Dr Sue showed that one third of people with diabetes who used The Diet Plate over a period of six months decreased their reliance on diabetes medication, including insulin. They also showed documented weight loss 80% greater than her control subjects and they saw decreases in cholesterol level. Dr Pederson concluded that "portion control" was a vital tool for people with diabetes to control their condition and that The Diet Plate was a safe, and highly effective way of achieving that.
Dr Sue reporting on her findings said "the weight loss results are all the more impressive considering that people with diabetes in general do not respond well in weight loss programmes. Our overall results are comparable to similar studies undertaken using expensive weight loss drugs, but with no need for close medical supervision or risk of unpleasant side effects.". The creator of The Diet Plate Mrs Kay Illingsworth reacted positively to the study. "For years we've been helping men and women lose weight and helping them live normal lives. Now we can prove what we've always known, that The Diet Plate is extremely effective and can greatly help people with diabetes regain control. ~
It's very exciting and rewarding to have developed such a simple and effective way to help people control their weight" Dr Ian Campbell, a leading UK expert on obesity and weight management welcomed the findings. "Losing weight is never easy, and even harder for diabetics. To achieve these results over a six month period is excellent, and with no more side effects than an occasional decrease in blood glucose, easily corrected by a reduction in medication, is very impressive indeed. The Diet Plate puts control back in the hands of the individual and makes it much easier for everyone who wants to lose weight and reap the health benefits.
