Type 2 diabetes

Normal metabolism means our bodies break down foods (especially carbohydrates) into sugars which are carried throughout our body to the cells which need the sugar to operate properly. These sugars provide important energy to most cells in our bodies.  For example, without simple sugars, our brains don’t think well.  We would become confused and unable to focus. When our blood sugar levels rise, our pancreas releases insulin.  Insulin helps sugars enter the body cells and keeps our blood sugar level under control. 

In type 2 diabetes, also called insulin resistance, this balance of sugar and insulin regulation is impaired or lost.  Blood sugar levels can become low early as the pancreas makes extra insulin, but as the pancreas fails to make enough insulin, the blood sugar levels become high and stay high, bathing the body in sugary blood.  The body quietly begins to suffer damage. 

But notice I said quietly.  Many people do not know they have diabetes.  

In 2012, 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, but 8.1 million do not know they have diabetes.
Do you wonder if you have developed type 2 diabetes?  The American Diabetes Association gives a risk test which tells you if you are at risk.  Check it out at http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/at-risk/risk-test-paper-version.pdf

What puts us at risk for developing type 2 diabetes?

When doctors talk about risk factors, these are health and lifestyle issues which can affect whether we develop a certain disease.  Usually there are two categories of risk factors:  those we cannot change and those we can change. 

Risk factors we cannot change include our genetics (our inherited genes which may be good or bad).  If your blood relatives (parents, siblings) suffer from diabetes, you face an increased risk.  Age and gender (which we cannot change) may increase our risk of developing diabetes. 

Risk factors we can change involve being overweight, having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, having unhealthy eating patterns, high blood sugar results on blood tests, and being physically inactive.  These behaviors may be contributing to type 2 diabetes and they can be changed with lifestyle changes. 

What are symptoms? The classic symptoms of diabetes are poly dipsia (abnormal thirst), poly phagia (hungry even when you have eaten) and polyuria (have to urinate more than normal).  Other symptoms are extreme fatigue, slow healing cuts/bruises/injuries, and tingling/numbness in hands and feet.  With the gradual onset of these symptoms, many people do not recognize they have developed type 2 diabetes. 

The high sugar content in our blood causes damage to our blood vessels .  That means every blood vessel from our coronary (heart) circulation to our tiny blood vessels which bring circulation to our eyes and nerve endings.  That explains why type 2 diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision problems.  But there is much we can do to keep our blood sugar levels under control and prevent/delay the damage type 2 diabetes can cause. 

The American Diabetes Association gives this good news:  “keeping blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol on target can help prevent or delay problems.”  American Diabetes Association, Taking Care of Type 2 Diabetes.  Find this patient education booklet under Facts About Type 2 diabetes at http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/facts-about-type-2.html?loc=db-slabnav  

 

Next week I will talk about what we can do to protect our health after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 

In the News--New comedy Black-ish star Anthony Anderson deals with diabetes

I haven’t watched this new show yet but I plan to check it out.  Star Anthony Anderson deals with diabetes in his personal life and in his character.  According to the news article I read, Mr. Anderson takes his diabetes seriously and has made healthy life changes:  he has lost weight (almost 50# over the past several years), he has began eating healthy and exercising.  He is adding bike riding, running on a treadmill to his lifestyle and adds basketball and golf into his busy schedule when he can. 

I applaude Anthony Anderson’s efforts to care for his health.  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/09/check-out-blac-kish-star-anthony-andersons-47-pound-weight-loss/

March 24^th is American Diabetes Association Alert Day. Many people who have diabetes do not recognize it.  Do you know the symptoms of diabetes?  Do you know how to protect your health when you have diabetes?  I will be talking about type 2 diabetes for the next few weeks. 

Danger of flying: dehydration

We recently made a vacation trip to Huatulco, Mexico (Western Mexico south of Puerto Vallarta). As we were preparing for our trip, I read an interesting article on Yahoo news about scary health effects of flying.   According to the Yahoo Travel article, a serious result of flying in an airplane is dehydration.  The air inside an airplane can be as low as 10 %.  Our bodies are comfortable at 50%.   This low humidity level can cause all kinds of dehydration side effects:  headache, thirst, reduced urination, constipation.  Dry sinuses, noses and throats can result and make a person more susceptible to infections.  

What can we do to avoid dehydration during flights?  Drink plenty of water.  Begin before the flight and continue to drink water during the flight.  Drinks which contain caffeine such as sodas, coffee, and tea can contribute to dehydration.  Alcohol drinks can contribute to dehydration also. 

After I got home from our trip, I really noticed that my body was dehydrated.  I’ve been drinking extra water, using saline nose spray and artificial tears to add fluids to my head.  I think I am making progress on recovery. 

 

Ready for Spring

While hubby and I were shoveling snow off our driveway, we talked about the sunshine, 80 degree temperatures and pleasant breezes we enjoyed last week in western Mexico.  We wish we were still there and had missed the 12” ice and snow blizzard we have dealt with since we got home last weekend. 

Oh well, as Mom used to say, “February is a short month, the days are getting longer and spring will be here soon.”  Come on, Spring.  We are ready.    

 

Which came first...the heart attack or the depression?

According to a Gallup Poll, “US adults who have had a heart attack are twice as likely as those who have not had a heart attack to report being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, 30.1% vs. 15.0%”.  On the other side of the coin, depression is a strong risk factor for developing heart disease, as strong as diabetes and smoking.  Both suffering a heart attack and suffering from depression cause people to be down and have difficulty making healthy lifestyle choices. 

Conversely, researchers are finding that people who feel happy and loved can more easily make healthy decisions. This research points out the importance of strong social ties which add much to our quality of life.  This research can be found at http://www.gallup.com/poll/180470/heart-attacks-depression-closely-linked.aspx

The American Heart Association suggests these three steps to manage stress/anxiety/depression.

1.     Recognize what is causing the stress and deal with it.  Get help if you need help.  Depression which continues for weeks should be cared for.
2.     Decide which healthy habit you want to work on.  Start gradually and build healthy behaviors until they become habits.  When stress or depression causes you to revert to old habits, start over again. 
3.     One step at a time when trying to break bad habits, especially smoking. 
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/Stress-Management_UCM_001082_SubHomePage.jsp

 

 

7 Simple Healthy behaviors from the American Heart Association

During Heart month, we will review heart healthy behaviors.  The American Heart Association calls it “Life’s Simple 7”.

1.     Increase your activity level.
2.     Eat more healthy
3.     If you are overweight, work to lose weight
4.     Stop smoking
5.     Know your cholesterol and bring it into normal range.
6.     Work to keep your blood pressure within normal range
7.     Reduce your blood sugar level

Wow, for many of us, that’s a lot of improving to start all at once. Before you make major life changes, talk to your doctor and together you can decide which one you should tackle first.  For example, if your blood pressure is within normal range, congratulate yourself and move onto the next choice.  If you’ve quit smoking, you deserve a big pat on your back and keep up the good work as you work on another of the Simple 7.  http://mylifecheck.heart.org/

 

Heart Month--February

February is Heart Month--what do we know about heart attack?

What is a heart attack (myocardial infarction)?  A person experiences a heart attack when the blood supply to the heart itself is blocked and inadequate.  Just as we have arteries and veins carrying blood to all parts of our body, we have coronary arteries which carry blood to the heart muscle and veins which carry blood away from the heart muscle back into our body circulation.  When the blood supply to the heart muscle is inadequate, a heart attack occurs. 

What are symptoms of a heart attack?  Classic symptoms include 

·       Chest discomfort (discomfort like an elephant is sitting on your chest) which might be described as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.  This discomfort can last awhile or it can go away and come back.

·       Pain that radiates up into the neck, arms (one or both), jaw, stomach, back. 

·       Being short of breath, whether you are exercising or not (especially if not exercising)

·       A cold sweat, nausea and being dizzy or lightheaded

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/911-Warnings-Signs-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_305346_SubHomePage.jsp

Anyone can experience the classic symptoms of a heart attack, but often women experience the more subtle symptoms of a heart attack such as fatigue, being short of breath, nausea, jaw or back pain.  The American Heart Association talks about women’s subtle symptoms of heart attack on their Go Red for Women website at https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-disease/symptoms_of_heart_disease_in_women/hard-to-recognize-heart-attack-symptoms/

What should you do if you experience any of these symptoms of heart attack.  Call 9-1-1 for emergency care.  Do not try to drive yourself to your doctor or local emergency room.  If you should pass out from your symptoms, you might hurt yourself and others so be smart and call 9-1-1 for emergency services.