Monday, May 16, 2011

ype 2 diabetes: Is it possible to prevent diabetes?08/23/2009:: Miscellaneous
The prevalence of type 2-diabetes is far more widespread than it was just a few decades ago. Adult onset diabetes (type 2) are now being diagnosed in children, teenagers and young adults. Whereas type 2-diabetes used to be regarded as an older person's disease, this is no longer true. With childhood obesity is rising and it is reasonable to make a connection between diet and weight as contributing factors.
If you are overweight, eat poorly and live a sedentary lifestyle, you may be setting yourself up for diabetes, whatever your age. If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, or have other risk factors such as a genetic predisposition to diabetes, a family history or have developed diabetes during pregnancy, it is especially important that you take steps to prevent diabetes. Here are some guidelines on what steps you must take to prevent diabetes.
In a recent large study that followed patients' health records over one hundred and six years, it was concluded that being overweight was perhaps more important than exercise in preventing diabetes. Women with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 were 28 times more likely to develop type 2-diabetes than women with normal weight and BMI. Patients who were overweight, but exercised 3-4 hours per day, five days each week, there were still 11 times more likely to develop diabetes than their lean counterparts without a regular exercise program.
That's not to say that you should not exercise, but instead suggest that if you are overweight, weight loss should be the primary goal of preventing diabetes. Reach a normal weight and BMI will exponentially reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
Incorporate a regular exercise program does not necessarily mean this will directly prevent diabetes, but you'll burn extra calories and improve your cardiovascular function and circulation, which are typical complications of type 2 diabetes.
Whichever diet program you choose, begin switching to whole, preferably organic foods rich in complex carbohydrates (those that degrade slowly), with plenty of fruits and veggies, low fat and high in fiber. Nutrient Sensitive dense foods that should be your first choice. If you eat meat, go for smaller portions of organically raised meat that contains no growth hormones. Processed foods contain large quantities of chemicals, preservatives, dyes and other food additives, along with large quantities of salt and sugar. Read the labels and see for yourself. When your goal is to prevent diabetes, these foods will contribute to a pre-diabetic state, eventually. Convenience, they offer are not worth the risk!
One of the most important steps you can take to prevent diabetes is to limit your sugar intake. In type 2 diabetes, your body can no longer effectively manage insulin production. If you're a big soda fan or dessert freak, your system is constantly taxed by large sugar spikes that can literally wear out the body's ability to manage your blood sugar. If you must drink sodas, you should look for some new products that are made with Splenda (R) instead of sugar. Although I rarely drink soda, I've tried these Splenda (R) drinks and they do taste just like sugar without the funny aftertaste of the regular diet soda. Try to use this sugar to sweeten coffee or lemonade and substitute Splenda (R) in recipes that call for sugar.
When you consider that processed convenience foods were less abundant three decades ago, when they are today, that these foods are probably contributing culprit in the rise of diabetes cases and the increased prevalence of obesity in children and adults. Preventing diabetes, get good food habits. Get your kids into healthy eating habits too. Good health is worth its weight in gold!

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