Many Of The Nation’s Diabetics Don’t Know They Have The Disease

By Kaaren Valenta

Diabetes is afflicting increasing numbers of people, and many of those who are at risk may not even know it.

“More than 16 million people in the United States are estimated to have diabetes and one-third to one-half don’t know they have it,” said diabetes educator Sally O’Toole of St Vincent’s Hospital.

“You are going to hear more and more about diabetes,” she told those who attended a free program sponsored by the St Rose Parish Nurse Ministry last week. “The numbers are going up, up, up – mostly because of our diets and lifestyle.”

While diabetes can cause severe complications – organ failure, loss of limbs, blindness – the good news is that long-term complications take years to develop.

“Some of the healthiest people I know have diabetes,” Ms O’Toole said. “They are healthy because they had to take good care of themselves. The diabetes of yesterday, when people lost legs and wound up on dialysis, does not have to be the diabetes of today.”

The goal of diabetes control and good health is glucose control: blood sugar levels of 75 to 120 or 125 before a meal. The problem comes when the body cannot manage to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar within that narrow range, she explained.

“Type I diabetes usually is diagnosed between birth and age 30 or 35,” she said. “For some reason the beta cells that make insulin are destroyed in the pancreas so they can never make insulin again. These people require injections to balance their blood sugar.”

“Type II is much more common. Ninety-nine of every 100 people with diabetes are Type II. In these cases, either there is a gradual diminishment in the amount of insulin that is produced, or the body makes more and more insulin until the pancreas gives out.”

And while Type I diabetes cannot be ignored without dire consequences, Type II is so easy to ignore that many people eventually develop complications that could have been avoided.

“There’s no such thing as having what some people call ‘a little sugar,’” Ms O’Toole said. “If you have diabetes, you must take steps to address it.”

What many people do not realize is that looking at labels and eliminating foods that contain sugar is not the answer.

“That’s basically table sugar,” Ms O’Toole explained. “You need to look at the carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates – bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, some cereals and starchy vegetables – turn into sugar.”

The body needs carbohydrates for energy – glucose – for its cells, she said. But when insulin levels diminish, the cells do not open to let the energy/glucose in. When glucose remains out of the cell in the bloodstream, it begins to damage the blood vessels throughout the body.

“Look to nutrition for the answer first,” Ms O’Toole said. “No amount of medicine can overcome poor nutrition habits. The first thing someone with diabetes should do is to go to a nutritionist, and watch the two c’s: carbohydrates and consistency.”

“Consistency means eating three meals a day at regular times – that’s the framework for good diabetic control and it is good living whether you are diabetic or not,” she said. “If you starve all day and then dump in all your foods at one meal, you body simply can’t cope.”

Meals should be well-balanced, containing protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. But the best thing you can eat for good health are lots of non-starchy vegetables, so if you are still hungry, increase the amount of them on your plate, she said. And get plenty of exercise.

“The increase in diabetes is linked to the increase in weight in this country,” she said. “The more weight, the more resistance. But even a small loss of weight – five pounds – can make a difference, so don’t be discouraged.”

Survival Tips

Diabetes educator Sally O’Toole provided the following list of  survival tips:

Diabetics should have the equipment to test their blood sugar at home. Every person with diabetes should know the symptoms of high and low blood sugar and be able to test blood sugars regularly at home. Keep records of your blood sugars and bring this information to your doctor’s visits.

Make sure you have three meals a day and try to have them at about the same time every day. Consistency is one of the most important issues in diabetes nutrition. Finding exactly the right foods to eat takes time but timing of meals can be the best place to start.

Try to have a variety of food groups at your meals. Vegetables, fruits, protein, breads, and grains make up a healthy diet. Limit simple sugar and fats.

Sugar and starches (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc.) effect your blood sugar. These foods are called carbohydrates. The key to blood sugar control is to balance your carbohydrate intake throughout the day and adjust the amounts of these foods.

See a nutritionist! A visit to a nutritionist is crucial to diabetes management. A nutritionist can help you individualize what is best for you and educate you for maximum flexibility with minimal stress.

Continue to educate yourself. There are classes, lectures, support groups, books, and unlimited information available. The more you know, the more freedom you have to enjoy life and prevent complications.