Newspaper Page Text
5tje Aiiuancg
The ADVANCE, November 9, 2022/Page 10A
November is ...
american
la
betes
month
How diabetes affects
various parts of the body
Diabetes affects mil
lions of people across the
globe. Data from the In
ternational Diabetes Fed
eration indicates that the
number of adults with dia
betes reached 537 million
in 2021. Despite a growing
awareness of the disease
and ad campaigns designed
to educate individuals
about diabetes prevention,
the number of people with
diabetes is predicted to rise
by more than 100 million
by 2030 and reach 783 mil
lion by 2045.
Diabetes occurs when
the pancreas does not pro
duce sufficient insulin or
cannot effectively utilize the
insulin it produces. When
an individual has diabetes,
various parts of that per
son's body can be affected.
Recognizing how diabetes
affects the body can shed
light on just how debilitat
ing the disease can become.
Eyes
The National Eye Insti
tute notes that chronically
high blood sugar from dia
betes can cause damage in
the retina that ultimately
leads to diabetic retinopa
thy. That's because exces
sive sugar in the blood can
lead to the blockage of tiny
blood vessels that nour
ish the retina. That block
age effectively cuts off the
blood supply to the retina,
prompting the eye to at
tempt to grow new blood
vessels. However, the Mayo
Clinic notes that these new
vessels do not develop prop
erly and can leak easily. The
longer a person has diabetes
and the less controlled their
blood sugar is, the more
likely they are to develop
diabetic retinopathy, which
can cause blindness.
Heart
According to the
Michigan-based Beaumont
Health, individuals with di
abetes are at a higher risk for
developing heart disease at
a younger age and in a more
severe form than those
without diabetes. The Cen
ters for Disease Control and
Prevention notes that this
link is due to the damage
that high blood sugar causes
to the vessels and nerves
that control the heart. In ad
dition, people with diabetes
are more likely to have high
blood pressure, too much
LDL, or "bad," cholesterol
in their bloodstream and
high triglycerides, which is
a type of fat in the blood.
Each of these conditions
increases a person's risk for
heart disease.
Skin
Diabetes also affects
the skin. In fact, the Mich
igan-based not-for-profit
group Beaumont Health
notes that a skin issue is
often the first sign that a
person has diabetes. That's
because diabetes damages
blood vessels in the skin,
leading to issues such as
diabetic dermopathy. Dia
betic dermopathy is char
acterized by brown, raised
patches of skin, typically
on the legs. The American
Academy of Dermatology
reports that, when diabetes
affects the skin, this is often
a sign that blood sugar lev
els are too high. The AAD
offers a list and brief run
down of the various ways
diabetes and prediabetes
can affect the skin at aad.
org/public/diseases/a-z/
diabetes-warning-signs.
Kidneys
The National Kidney
Foundation® notes that
diabetes damages small
blood vessels throughout
the body, including in the
kidneys. When vessels in
the kidneys are damaged,
the kidneys cannot clean
blood properly. As a result,
the body retains more wa
ter and salt than it should,
which produces a host of
negative consequences, in
cluding weight gain and the
buildup of waste materials
in the blood. In addition,
elevated blood sugar levels
force the kidneys to work
harder. Over time, all that
extra work can lead to kid
ney failure.
Diabetes is a poten
tially deadly, yet often pre
ventable disease. By tak
ing measures to safeguard
themselves against diabetes,
individuals also are protect
ing various parts of their
body from the ripple effects
of the disease.
The basics of diabetes and diet
The number of people living with
diabetes has risen dramatically over the
last four decades. According to the World
Health Organization, between 1980 and
2014, the number of people with diabetes
rose from 108 million to 422 million.
The dramatic spike in diabetes cases
in such a short period of time highlights
just how big a threat the disease poses to
the health of people across the globe. That
makes now a perfect time to learn more
about diabetes and what individuals can
do to manage their disease.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease related to
how the body produces or utilizes insulin,
a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Dia
betes occurs when the pancreas does not
produce sufficient insulin or cannot effec
tively utilize the insulin it produces.
What is the difference between type 1
and type 2 diabetes?
The WHO notes that more than 95
percent of the people with diabetes have
type 2 diabetes. According to the Ameri
can Diabetes Association®, type 2 diabetes
occurs when the body does not use insulin
properly, whereas type 1 occurs when the
body does not produce insulin.
Can diabetes be managed?
It's important that individuals diag
nosed with diabetes recognize that both
types 1 and 2 can be managed. The ADA
reports that diet and routine exercise are vi
tal to managing type 2 diabetes. The ADA
urges people who have recently been diag
nosed with diabetes to speak with a regis
tered dietitian nutritionist (RDN/RD) to
find foods that are healthy and help them
feel satisfied at the end of a meal. Lingering
may compel people to make poor dietary
choices that could make their condition
worse. The ADA's "Nutrition Consensus
Report," published in 2019, is a compre
hensive review of600 research articles over
a five-year span conducted by a panel of
scientists, doctors, endocrinologists, dia
betes educators, and dietitians. That review
emphasized the significance of working
with an RDN, noting that recommenda
tions about diet for diabetes patients must
take factors specific to each individual, in
cluding their life circumstances and prefer
ences, into consideration. The review also
noted that each person responds differ
ently to different types of foods and diets,
so there is no single diet that will work for
all patients.
Though there is no "one-size-fits-all"
diet for people with diabetes, the ADA cre
ated the Diabetes Plate Method as a simple
way to help people with diabetes create
healthy meals. The method urges individu
als to fill half their plate with nonstarchy
vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli,
green beans, and salad greens. One-quarter
of the plate should be filled with lean pro
teins such as chicken, lean beef (cuts like
chuck, round or sirloin), or fish (salmon,
cod, tuna). Plant-based sources of protein
also count, and these include beans, len
tils, hummus, falafel, edamame, and tofu,
among other foods. The final quarter of
the plate should be reserved for foods that
are higher in carbohydrates, such as whole
grains (brown rice, quinoa, whole grain
pastas), beans and legumes, or even fruits
and dried fruit.
More people than ever before are be
ing diagnosed with diabetes. Diet plays a
significant role in managing life with dia
betes. More information can be found at
diabetes.org.
Simple ways to make meals healthier
Increasing the amount
of vegetables in one's diet
is a simple and healthy
modification.
Cooking foods at
home is one of the sim
plest ways to gain greater
control over personal
health. Cooking at home
is the easiest way to know
precisely what you're put
ting into your body each
day. Cooking your own
meals also enables you to
customize recipes so they
align with any dietary re
strictions or personal pref
erences you may have.
When cooking at
home, cooks can consider
various tips to make meals
that much healthier.
• Increase fiber intake.
Fiber improves bowel reg
ularity and helps a person
feel full between meals.
High fiber foods also help
stabilize blood sugar lev
els.
• Slow down eating.
The pace at which a person
eats a meal can affect his or
her overall health. Health
line reports that fast eaters
are more likely to eat more
and have higher body mass
indexes than slow eaters.
• Choose whole
grains. Choosing whole
grain breads or cereals over
refined grains can make
for a more nutritious diet.
Whole grains are linked to
a reduced risk for type 2
diabetes, heart disease and
cancer.
• Swap Greek yogurt
for other varieties. Greek
yogurt contains up to
twice as much protein as
regular yogurt, provid
ing roughly 10 grams per
3.5 ounces. Protein along
with fiber helps a person
feel fuller longer, which
can manage appetite and
reduce overeating. Greek
yogurt also can replace
mayonnaise or sour cream
in certain recipes.
• Add a vegetable to
every meal. Vegetables are
loaded with essential vita
mins and minerals. Plus,
they tend to be high in an
tioxidants that strengthen
the immune system. In
crease vegetable intake by
eating vegetables with ev
ery meal.
• Choose healthy fats.
While a person should
minimize the amount of
oils and other fats used
during the cooking pro
cess, when it's necessary
for a recipe, select the
best fat possible. Olive oil
is a monounsaturated fat
that is packed with anti
oxidant polyphenols. It is
considered a heart-healthy
oil, and it may promote a
healthy brain and memory
function.
• Cut out sweetened
beverages. Sodas and other
sweetened drinks are lead
ing sources of added sugar
in diets. Opting for water
or naturally sweetened
fruit juices can improve
overall health.
Small dietary changes
can add up to big health
benefits.
GASTRO
INTESTINAL
ENDOSCOPY
The Endoscopy Center of
Southeast Georgia
Ronnie R. Smith, MD
Member of American Society
for Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy
James H. Barber, Jr., MD
A Certified Ambulatory
Surgery Center specializing in
G-l endoscopy. We are
"focused" on the prevention
of colorectal cancer and the
early diagnosis and
management of diseases of
the esophagus, stomach,
intestines and colon. 200
Maple Drive, Vidalia, GA.
912-538-TEST (8378).
GA Permit #138-082.
PODIATRY
Wiggins Foot and Ankle
Associates, P.C.
G. Mark Wiggins, D.P.M., Board
Certified; foot, reconstructive
rear foot and ankle surgery.
Available 5 days a week. Office
hours 8:30 -5:00 Mon. - Fri. 205
Arlington Drive, Vidalia, GA.
537-2559.
PREVENTIVE
MEDICINE
Ronnie R. Smith, MD and
James H. Barber, Jr., MD
Board certified in Internal
Medicine and "focused" on the
Prevention of Heart Attack ,
Stroke, Colorectal Cancer,
Osteoporosis and other health-
altering, life-threatening
diseases. For "State-Of-The-
Art" disease prevention and
early detection services, contact
us at 538-TEST (538-8378).