Is Type 2 Diabetes Preventable?
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. The good news is that the answer to whether it’s preventable is a resounding YES! In fact, prevention is a big deal! It’s even more so important if you have an increased risk of diabetes. Some of these risks include having a family history of the disease, being overweight, or a diagnosis of prediabetes. The CDC reports that “prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.” More than 83 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those people with prediabetes, approximately 90% don’t know they have it. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke. You can have prediabetes for years but experience no symptoms. Because of this, it often goes undetected until serious health problems arise. Concerned about your risks? Complete the Tria Health Diabetes Risk Assessment and discuss your results with your doctor! Are You at Risk for Diabetes? In the United States, diabetes affects approximately 30.3 million people (CDC, 2017) and is the 7th leading cause of death. Timely screening can lead to early diagnosis which slows the disease progression and ultimately long-term complications such as heart attacks, neuropathy, and irreversible kidney damage, among others. The American Diabetes Association recommends the following screening guidelines: ALL adults who fit the BMI criteria and 1 or more risk factors should be screened at any age Adults who meet the BMI criteria without an extra risk factor can wait until 45 years old for screening Testing should be repeated at least every 3 years for those with normal results Diabetes Risk Factors: BMI greater Continue reading >>
How Labeling Diabetes As "easily Preventable" Misses The Point
Last August, I went to my yearly check-up and used my doctor's fancy body composition device that determines skeletal muscle mass, body fat index, and other measures. After examining the results and my blood tests, my doctor looked at me and said, "You need to lose about 14 pounds, cut out all added sugars, and come back for a repeat blood test in 6 months. You have hyperglycemia." Translation? I'm pre-diabetic. If you know me, you know that my diet mainly consists of vegetables, quinoa, and chickpeas. Although I'm slightly addicted to ice cream, I've always had a healthy lifestyle of eating well and exercising regularly. Unfortunately, regardless of my habits, genetics have blessed me with an inability to properly breakdown glucose – also known as insulin resistance. Regardless of a change my diet, I'm at high risk to develop type 2 diabetes. You might imagine my frustration a month ago when I read an article called, 6 Simple Steps To Avoid Diabetes, According to a Diabetes Doctor. Almost immediately, I was furious. The article minimizes diabetes as a disease, calling it "easily avoidable" and "a pain to deal with.” Having diabetes is not just a pain, it completely alters the way you think, live, and act. Diabetes increases your risk of blindness, kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. It affects at least 29 million Americans, 8.1 million of whom are undiagnosed. It is much more than just a pain. With that said, here are my responses to the author's six "simple" steps: 1. Doctors appointments are essential in order to assess diabetes risk factors. It's important to note that there's a huge difference between diabetes type 1 (inability to produce insulin, requires injections) and type 2 (inability to break down glucose). I fully agree that is necessary Continue reading >>
Daily Checkup: Diabetes Is The 7th Leading Cause Of Death In The U.s., Much Of It Preventable
The Specialist: As Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition at Mount Sinai Saint Luke’s and Mount Sinai Roosevelt hospitals, Dr. Jeanine Albu specializes in diabetes treatment and prevention. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. WHO’S AT RISK Almost 10% of American adults are living with diabetes, and another 86 million are considered pre-diabetic. “Diabetes is defined as elevated blood glucose, or blood sugar,” says Albu. “With proper medical treatment, diabetes can be kept in check, and in many cases it can be prevented in the first place.” Diabetes is a syndrome that has several causes. “Type 1 diabetes — which used to be called juvenile diabetes — is when the pancreas no longer produces insulin, a hormone necessary for glucose absorption,” says Albu. “Much more common is type 2 diabetes, which is when the pancreas is still capable of making insulin but the body develops an insulin resistance — eventually the pancreas can’t keep up with the demand for more and more insulin to overcome the body’s resistance.” Type 1 diabetes is usually the result of an autoimmune response and is not preventable, but type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. “Being overweight, obese, and/or sedentary are major risk factors for becoming insulin resistant,” says Albu. “Also at increased risk are people with a family history of diabetes or a personal history of gestational diabetes, and people with other conditions like high blood pressure and heart conditions like cardiovascular disease.” Diabetes is especially prevalent in Hispanic-American, African-American, and Asian-American populations. The risk of developing diabetes also increases with age. “As we get older, the action of insulin is im Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Preventing The Most Preventable Disease
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. The occurrence of Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. By following this simple plan you can prevent becoming a casualty of this chronic, debilitating disease. Over 23 million people in the United States are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and, according to the American Diabetes Association, some 7 million more may be unaware that they have the disease. The majority of the risk factors for developing diabetes are lifestyle-related. In other words, people are making a lot of bad choices and it is affecting their health. Moreover, the destructive effects of this condition are not limited to just one’s personal health. With almost 250 billion dollars per year being spent on the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes (much of which is paid for by either the insurance industry or the taxpayer), this disease is now having a deleterious effect on health care in this country and the American economy. Because the onset and progress of diabetes is gradual, it is often misconstrued as a nuisance condition that is easily controlled with medication. Many consider it an inevitable effect of aging. In fact, Type 2 diabetes is entirely preventable and can be a debilitating and deadly disease. The following is a list of complications of diabetes. Serious consideration of these complications should encourage you to make the lifestyle choices that can help prevent diabetes from becoming part of your life: Heart Disease and Stroke – Diabetics have a 2 to 4 times greater risk of stroke or heart disease related death. Blindness – Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness for adults 20-74 years old. Kidney Disease – Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Neuropathy – 60-70% of diabet Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes Statistics And Facts
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Read on to learn some of the key facts and statistics about the people who have it and how to manage it. Risk factors Many risk factors for type 2 diabetes include lifestyle decisions that can be reduced or even cut out entirely with time and effort. Men are also at slightly higher risk of developing diabetes than women. This may be more associated with lifestyle factors, body weight, and where the weight is located (abdominally versus in the hip area) than with innate gender differences. Significant risk factors include: older age excess weight, particularly around the waist family history certain ethnicities physical inactivity poor diet Prevalence Type 2 diabetes is increasingly prevalent but also largely preventable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in adults. The CDC also gives us the following information: In general Research suggests that 1 out of 3 adults has prediabetes. Of this group, 9 out of 10 don't know they have it. 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, but 8.1 million may be undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. About 1.4 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in United States every year. More than one in every 10 adults who are 20 years or older has diabetes. For seniors (65 years and older), that figure rises to more than one in four. Cases of diagnosed diabetes cost the United States an estimated $245 billion in 2012. This cost is expected to rise with the increasing diagnoses. In pregnancy and parentingAccording to the CDC, 4.6 to 9.2 percent of pregnancies may be affected by gestational diabetes. In up to 10 percent of them, the mother is diagnosed w Continue reading >>
Diabetes Is 90 Percent Preventable, Study Says
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Nine out of 10 cases of diabetes could be prevented by following modestly healthier lifestyles, according to a recent study published in the journal the Archives of Internal Medicine. “We know how to prevent nearly all cases of type 2 diabetes,” says study researcher Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, MPH, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. THE DETAILS: Researchers found that a combination of five lifestyle factors accounted for 9 out of 10 new cases of type 2 diabetes in people ages 65 and older. Those factors are: physical activity, diet, smoking habits, alcohol use, and body fat, which was calculated through body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference readings. They followed 4,883 men and women over a 10-year period as part of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Participants answered questionnaires regarding their health habits, and their BMI and waist size were measured during a physical exam. Based on their responses, they were place in a low- or high-risk group. During the 10-year study, 300 people were diagnosed with diabetes. Researchers found, though, that a person’s chance of developing diabetes was 35 percent lower for each lifestyle factor that was within healthy parameters. WHAT IT MEANS: Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body fails to properly respond to and produce insulin, which results in a buildup of sugar in the blood and other problems. It affects nearly 24 million Americans, or about 8 percent of the entire population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older people are most at risk. While there other, unchangeable risk factors—like genetic Continue reading >>
Is Diabetes Preventable?
Of the two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2- it is possible to prevent developing type 2 diabetes. Currently, there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, although there are ongoing studies to discover ways to prevent it in those people who are more likely to develop it. Type 1 diabetes can be hereditary; however, many people who have the disease actually have no family history of it. If you have type 1 diabetes, it’s important to make sure you are following your treatment plan and maintaining regular medical appointments and checkups. While there’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, you can help prevent complications from the disease by keeping your blood sugar levels in the target range. Damage from complications can be stopped and even reversed entirely if they are treated early. Type 2 diabetes prevention, on the other hand, is possible. People with type 2 diabetes have problems making and/or using insulin. When insulin is not being used by the body as it should be, glucose can’t get into the body’s cells, which leads to the cells not functioning properly. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves in the eyes, kidneys and heart and can lead to heart attack and stroke. Tips for Diabetes Prevention While anyone can get type 2 diabetes, the people who are most at risk are those who are over age 45, are overweight or obese, rarely exercise, and have high blood pressure. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include things like increased hunger and thirst, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and numbness in hands and feet, just to name a few. If you are over the age of 45, it’s recommended to get tested annually for type 2 diabetes. If you follow these diabetes prevention tips recommended by the American Diabetes Association, these simple lifestyle c Continue reading >>
- Diabetes: An Entirely Preventable & Reversible Condition
- Diabetes dilemma: Prevalent disease is on rise, but it's largely preventable
- American Diabetes Association® Releases 2018 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, with Notable New Recommendations for People with Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Grieving Family Campaigning To Stop Preventable Type 1 Diabetes Deaths
The family of a teenager who died from type 1 diabetes want to put a stop to "preventable deaths" related to the condition. The Baldwin family from Cardiff lost their 13-year-old son Peter in 2015 just days after he had been diagnosed. Since then they have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes so more people are aware of the symptoms before it is too late. Speaking to the BBC, Peter's mother Beth Baldwin said: "Losing a child is beyond anyone's worst nightmare. It's something that no family should have to go through and now it's our mission to make sure that parents and medical professionals have the symptoms of type one at the front of their minds." She said the danger of type 1 diabetes is that it can be "easily mistaken" for other illnesses. At the time her son became ill, he had also been unwell with a chest infection so it had delayed diagnosis because the symptoms had been harder to identify. The family's campaigning included petitioning the Welsh Government, and calling for routine screening to be made available for children and young people. A national assembly committee meeting has been set up to meet this month so health boards can discuss the best way forward to help diagnose the condition earlier. According to Diabetes UK Cymru, around 1,400 children and 18,600 adults are affected by type 1 diabetes in Wales. It is thought that around one in five of children are not diagnosed until they are in a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This occurs when cells in the body are unable to get the sugar they need for energy because there is not enough insulin being produced. As a result, the body is forced to produce very high levels of ketones which cause the blood to become dangerously acidic. It was this condition tha Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes: Causes And Symptoms
While type 2 diabetes is often preventable, type 1 diabetes mellitus is not.1 Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys cells in the pancreas. Typically, the disease first appears in childhood or early adulthood. Type 1 diabetes used to be known as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), but the disease can have an onset at any age.2 Type 1 diabetes makes up around 5% of all cases of diabetes.3,4 What is type 1 diabetes? In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce any insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.2,3 Insulin production becomes inadequate for the control of blood glucose levels due to the gradual destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. This destruction progresses without notice over time until the mass of these cells decreases to the extent that the amount of insulin produced is insufficient.2 Type 1 diabetes typically appears in childhood or adolescence, but its onset is also possible in adulthood.2 When it develops later in life, type 1 diabetes can be mistaken initially for type 2 diabetes. Correctly diagnosed, it is known as latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood.2 Causes of type 1 diabetes The gradual destruction of beta cells in the pancreas that eventually results in the onset of type 1 diabetes is the result of autoimmune destruction. The immune system turning against the body's own cells is possibly triggered by an environmental factor exposed to people who have a genetic susceptibility.2 Although the mechanisms of type 1 diabetes etiology are unclear, they are thought to involve the interaction of multiple factors:2 Susceptibility genes - some of which are carried by over 90% of patients with type 1 diabetes. Some populations - Scandinavians and Sardinians, Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes: Prevalent, Pricey And Preventable
The incidence of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. is skyrocketing, largely due to the increased rates of overweight and obesity. Currently, 9.3 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes. About one-quarter of people with diabetes don’t know they have it. The prevalence of diabetes is predicted to double or triple1 by the year 2050—to one in three people—if current trends continue. 37 percent of the adult population have pre-diabetes, based on fasting glucose levels, which puts them at high risk of developing full-blown diabetes. Read more on diabetes statistics in CDC’s 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report.2 Health professionals play a key role in helping prevent and manage type 2 diabetes by accurately diagnosing the disease, educating patients and clients about it, and developing feasible and actionable plans to attain blood sugar control. Diabetes Prevention: Why does it matter? Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes has far-reaching implications to people personally through compromised health and productivity, and to society through elevated medical expenses. Complications of diabetes include: Heart disease and stroke Retinopathy leading to blindness Kidney disease Dental disease Complications of pregnancy Nervous system damage leading to amputations It is estimated that diabetes costs the nation a total of $245 billion each year. About 70 percent of this total is direct costs associated with medical expenses, and 30 percent is indirect costs in the form of disability and lost productivity. Children are not immune from developing type 2 diabetes; in fact, it is predicted that one in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Minorities and older adults are also at high risk of developi Continue reading >>
Is Diabetes Preventable With Diet?
India is the world's capital of Diabetes, which means we have the largest number of Diabetics. Somehow the one thing that most of us don't know is that our diet could be contributing factor to this chronic illness. It is one of the things that makes us different from other populations and it could be the most vital. If we correct this one feature, we might be able to avoid this "epidemic". If you are diabetic, apply for our diabetes reversal program Our food is something that can easily push us towards Diabetes or prevent it, depending on our body's reaction to glucose. Foods rich is sugar, that can increase blood glucose should be avoided (this includes tea and coffee). Also processed foods with trans fats and high cholesterol should be avoided, especially those fried foods and/or ones with sugar syrups. These foods disrupt the body's balance of glucose and insulin and cause inflammation and increase risk of obesity. Carbs in your diet must also be eaten in moderation, because they can increase blood glucose. Glycemic Index is how the food increases the blood glucose. Some foods have higher GI, while others like dry beans, dals, vegetables low in starch whole wheat breads and cereals have a low GI and are better. Eating a healthy diet is the easiest way to prevent Diabetes. And while it seems like it is just a "sugar disease", it is not. It has a whole lot of other problems it causes in the body due to Diabetes. These can be prevented but never cured by eating more fruits and vegetables in your diet that are fresh. Small meals with whole grains (wheat instead of maida), fish more than red meats, beans & dals (pulses), and liquid oils. Avoid saturated fats, high-calorie snacks and desserts, like chips, ice cream etc. Even 30 minutes of exercise on a daily basis or losin Continue reading >>
Is Diabetes Preventable? Can Anything Be Done If Diabetes Is Running In The Family?
Diabetes is a medical condition wherein there is an elevation in sugar levels in the blood. This may be caused by lack of insulin production in the pancreas or due to decreased sensitivity of the cells to insulin. Diabetes affects children and adults alike and the number of people with diabetes increases every day. There are three types of diabetes, specifically Type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, and diabetes during pregnancy which is known as gestational diabetes, with Type II diabetes being the most common and is usually a lifestyle-related disease. The Role of Insulin and How It Affects Diabetics: The pancreas is an organ in the body that produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin is needed by glucose, a simple form of sugar present in the blood, to enter the cells and provide energy. Glucose is formed when carbohydrates from the food we eat are broken down into its simplest form. It enters the blood stream and normally enters fat, liver, and muscle cells with the help of insulin. Glucose is the main source of fuel of cells in the body so that these can function normally. In individuals with diabetes, one of two things may occur. One, the pancreas may produce little or no insulin at all which makes glucose build up in the blood. This is also known as Type 1 Diabetes and individuals with this type of diabetes need daily injections of insulin. Second, the cells of the body may not react to insulin the way they are supposed to which also causes accumulation of blood glucose. This is known as Type 2 Diabetes and is usually caused by physical inactivity and poor weight control. This type of diabetes is commonly managed with oral medications, diet, and exercise. Symptoms of Diabetes: Diabetes symptoms of individuals with type 1 diabetes usually manifest within a short time Continue reading >>
Preventable Hospitalization Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries With Type 2 Diabetes
OBJECTIVE—To examine the impact of comorbid conditions on preventable hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data were drawn from the 1999 Medicare Standard Analytic Files, a 5% nationally representative random sample of Medicare beneficiaries. The analysis sample included 193,556 Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes (ICD-9-CM codes 250.xx) who were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare. Preventable hospitalization was assessed by measuring ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, an accepted measure of hospitalizations that could have been prevented with appropriate outpatient care. Multivariable analyses controlled for demographics; mortality; renal, ophthalmic, or neurological manifestations of diabetes; type of physician providing the outpatient care; and per capita community-level indicators of income and hospital beds. RESULTS—Ninety-six percent of beneficiaries in the sample had a comorbidity, and 46% had five or more comorbidities. Among beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular-related comorbidities were common and accounted for increased odds of preventable hospitalization, controlling for other factors. The likelihood of a preventable hospitalization increased in the presence of a claim for comorbid congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, or cardiac dysrythmias. Noncardiovascular comorbidities associated with a greater likelihood of preventable hospitalization included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and lower respiratory disorders, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, personality/anxiety disorders, depression, and osteoporosis. Our data suggest that nearly 7% of all hospitalizations could be avoided. Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes Is Largely A Preventable Disease
On a day to day basis we encounter patients plagued with Type 2 Diabetes. It is absolutely true that this disease is due to carbohydrate intolerance caused mostly by a high carbohydrate diet over the course of many years. We can’t discount the fact that genetics plays a roll in a person’s predisposition to developing diabetes, but believe it or not, this can be relatively controlled by adhering to a low carbohydrate diet. The population currently at greatest risk is our children. Click on the link below to read Dr. Bernstein’s letter to the editor for NY Times Magazine discussing type 2 diabetes in children. Cut and paste the link below into your browser to read this article. Here are some ways we can educate our children and try to prevent this in their future: 1. Model good behavior- we have all heard it before- “practice what you preach”. You can’t expect your kids to eat a healthy diet if you don’t. Teach them by example, it is truly the most effective way to get your point across. 2. When talking to your children about healthy eating habits, make sure you approach it from that perspective- the health perspective. Try not to focus or even mention weight. Fostering a healthy self esteem is also crucial. By not focusing on weight you are sending your kids the message that it is not how you look that is important, but rather how you take care of your body that counts. 3. Educate your kids about the differences between protein, fat and carbohydrates and help them understand how to balance their diet to get the essential nutrients their bodies need to stay healthy and fit 4. Be active with your kids- try turning on some music and dancing silly around the room (my kids love this!), go for evening walks as the weather is nicer, go for a family bike ride. With Continue reading >>
Diabetes: An Entirely Preventable & Reversible Condition
The title of this article may sound like heresy to those who have been schooled to believe that when diabetes "happens" to you, it is with you for life. There is far more to the story than both drug and naturally-based palliative medicine normally touches upon. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) statistics, diabetes now afflicts 25.8 million Americans, or 8.3% of our population. Only 5% of diabetics are type 1, where through autoimmune destruction of insulin producing beta-cells, they are told they have a lifelong dependence on insulin. The rest are classified as type 2, resulting from insulin resistance (the cells of the body stop responding to insulin) combined in some cases with insulin deficiency. Additionally, according to the ADA 1 in every 4 Americans have pre-diabetes, or 79 million. What's causing this epidemic? While geneticists apply vast amounts of time, energy and money to finding the "causes" of disease in our genes, much less attention is placed on well-known triggers of autoimmunity such as infections, vaccines, pesticide and petroleum exposure (diesel fuel particles) and the consumption of foods like wheat, cow milk and soy (unfermented, GMO and/or excessive) are the major contributing factors in the development of type 1 diabetes. Additionally, the consumption of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oil and basic deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and chromium contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Blaming "bad genes" on diseases like diabetes is a convenient way to escape the obvious things we can do individually, and as a culture, to prevent the escalation of an already epidemic problem. We shouldn't settle for the unlikely prospect of a future "cure" via the pharmaceutical pipeline, gene therapy, stem ce Continue reading >>
