Diabetes
Diabetes
Excerpts from Kate Marsh and Claire Turnbull
articles
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the world.
Right now almost 250 million people worldwide have diabetes and
this is expected to increase to 380 million by the year 2025.
In New Zealand it is estimated over 185,000 people have either
diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is NZ's fastest growing chronic disease - but lifestyle changes can greatly reduce our risk.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce insulin or
when the insulin that is produced does not work effectively.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is needed for the
absorption of glucose by the body's cells.
When we consume carbohydrates (starchy and sugary foods) our body
breaks them down into glucose (the body's main energy source),
which enters the bloodstream. Without insulin our bodies cannot
take the glucose from our bloodstream to our muscles - keep reading
to see what may happen as a result of this!
The difference between type 1 and 2
Type 1 diabetes
is an autoimmune disorder that occurs
when the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells
in the pancreas. This means that a person with type 1 diabetes does
not produce any insulin and insulin must be given through regular
injections. Type 1 diabetes represents around 10% of all cases of
diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's insulin is
unable to work properly (a problem called insulin resistance)
and/or when the body cannot produce enough insulin to maintain
normal blood glucose levels. The risk is higher in people who are
overweight and inactive, and diet and exercise are the first line
of treatment. But most people with type 2 diabetes will need oral
medications and possibly insulin over time.
Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes,
affecting around 90% of all people with diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms
People with type 1 diabetes often have a sudden onset of
symptoms, while those with type 2 diabetes may not experience any
symptoms or may not realise the symptoms they are experiencing are
related to diabetes. Some common symptoms of diabetes
include:
- increased thirst
- frequent urination
- blurred vision, dizziness and headaches
- feeling tired and lethargic
- unintentional weight loss (particularly type 1
diabetes)
- weight gain (type 2 diabetes)
- irritability and mood swings
Diabetes facts
- Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes can be managed
but not prevented.
- Type 2 diabetes can largely be prevented.
- Type 2 diabetes often runs in the family. People who have
one parent with type 2 diabetes have a high risk of developing
diabetes.
- There are 160,542 diagnosed New Zealanders with type 2
diabetes. There are 800,000 overweight or obese people in New
Zealand who are at risk from type 2 diabetes. There is no doubt
excessive weight increases your risk of getting type 2
diabetes.
Helpful Hints
One of the best ways to support to a newly diagnosed
person with type 2 diabetes is by eating the same healthy foods and
joining in on regular exercise.
People with diabetes
don't need to buy special foods or eat differently from the rest of
the family - if everyone's eating healthy food it will be good for
the person with diabetes and the rest of the family,
too.
Make sure you get at least your 5+/day, as eating more vegetables
and salads is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.
Clever eating choices
- Eat more vegetables and salads - aim for at least
five serves per day with a variety of different colours on your
plate.
- Replace refined and processed carbs such as white bread,
puffed or flaked cereals, biscuits and crackers with whole grains
and low-GI carbs including oats, whole grain breads and crackers,
barley, pasta, noodles, corn, cracked wheat and quinoa.
- Choose only lean cuts of meat and skinless chicken, and
include more fish (aim for two to three serves per week) and
legumes (such as lentils, chickpeas and dried or canned beans) in
your meals.
- Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products or try soy
products.
- Cook with healthy oils such as olive and canola in place of
butter or margarine.
- Instead of butter or spread on bread, try spreading avocado
or tahini as an alternative.
- Snack on fruit, low-fat yoghurt, unsalted nuts, raw carrots
with hummus and whole grain fruit loaf in place of processed or
high-fat food.
- Keep high fat and sugary foods as very occasional foods
only.
- Choose healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats over
saturated and trans-fats.
Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetics can find their blood sugar lowers when
they exercise.
During exercise, muscles are working harder and need more fuel
(glucose) than when at rest. They therefore use more glucose.
Prevent low blood sugar when exercising by:
To keep blood glucose levels within a normal range, you
either need to eat more carbohydrate than usual or to inject less
insulin before exercise.
Most type 1 diabetics find a small reduction in insulin can be
helpful. You'll need to discuss this with your GP or diabetes
specialist before initiating any changes to your normal
routine.
To prevent hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), carry a
carbohydrate-rich drink or snack such as a piece of fruit or a
low-fat cereal bar with you whenever you exercise.
