Diabetes
is a rapidly growing, serious, and complex disease that is a source of fear and
worry for many individuals, but understanding the disease and learning how to
protect yourself is a great start to defending yourself from letting it control
your life with nutrition and Exercise.
What
Is Diabetes?
Diabetes
is a group of diseases that results in the body not producing enough insulin
becoming resistant, thus causing increased levels of glucose in the blood.
Everything about diabetes is circumstantial and dependent on a variety of
factors from genetic to environmental, so it is important to understand the
different types of diabetes and how they may fit into your life. The most
common risk factors for diabetes are: obesity, lack of physical activity,
family history of diabetes, unhealthy diet, getting older, and a history of
gestational diabetes.
So
what actually causes diabetes? We know that high glucose is a result of low or
no insulin production, but what is insulin and where does it come from?
Insulin
is a vital hormone made in your pancreas that is required for our digestive
systems to process sugar. Whenever we eat, cells in our pancreas release
insulin to either absorb sugar for immediate use or to store the glucose
(sugar) found in our blood. Insulin effectively transports the excess glucose to
our liver for storage and is released if our blood sugar drops below the normal
level; therefore, without insulin production the glucose has no way to regulate
itself and builds up in the body, causing a myriad of short- and long-term
issues.
Adults with diabetes are
nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without
diabetes. This is because over time, high blood glucose from
diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart.
The good news is that the steps you take to manage your diabetes can also help
lower your chances of having heart disease or a stroke:
Stop smoking or using other tobacco products.
Manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Develop or maintain healthy lifestyle habits - be more
physically active and learn ways to manage stress.
Call Fitness and Wellness Director, Mary Lou Schell for more information at 858-759-6075! |