Nutritional Intervention

By Wayne Andersen, DO, MD

A recent Baylor University study predicted that by 2030, 90% of our population will be overweight or obese. Over 85% of diseases currently affecting our country's population are either directly or indirectly related to our nutritional intake.

Adult onset diabetes, one of the leading causes of adult blindness, kidney disease, lower extremity amputation and cardiovascular disease, may be one of the most debilitating yet preventable diseases known. In the United States alone, an estimated 11.1 million people have diabetes, but only 5.2 million people have been diagnosed with the disease. Being overweight or obese greatly increases your risk of getting diabetes.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to control its blood glucose levels properly. Our bodies create and store glucose from the carbohydrates we eat. For glucose to enter the cells, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, must be present. In people with diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin or the body's cells simply do not respond to the insulin. The result is the inability for glucose to enter the cells; therefore, the blood glucose level becomes high.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are overlooked. Recent studies indicate that early detection of symptoms and treatment can significantly decrease the chance of developing diabetes. Some of the symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, increased fatigue, irritability, and blurry vision.

It is true that having diabetes is serious, but with proper medical management, nutrition and weight loss, people with diabetes might not develop the complications associated with the disease.

A very promising and ongoing study at Johns Hopkins University is showing that proper nutrition using low glycemic foods along with a balanced weight reduction program is reducing the need for both oral and injectable insulin in the study group of type II diabetics.

Nutritional intervention, (providing the body with the proper building blocks it needs.) is the first and best treatment to restore health. Always consult with your primary care physician or diabetic specialist before beginning a weight loss program. Look for a low glycemic program that has been certified by the Glycemic Research Institute.

Why not take charge and make the rest of your life the best of your life?