Uptown Dallas Nutritionist writes about diabetes, its effects and actions to take. Â
Diabetes affects more than 10% of the American adult population. Some statistics say 13%, with 40% of them not even knowing they have diabetes. An estimated 57 million more have prediabetes, putting them at a high risk of developing full blown diabetes. Just as with many medical conditions, early testing is the key to controlling this difficult condition.
Many aspects of the body and its functions are effected by diabetes.
- The brain is effected often by depression, causing normal living functions to be difficult.
- The eyes are often a toll taken by diabetes because of high glucose levels and high blood pressure that can damage tiny blood vessels causing vision loss and even blindness.
- The heart is a target with diabetics who are twice as likely to develop heart disease or stroke than non-diabetics. These conditions seem to occur at younger ages than in other people.
- The stomach is often damaged in that nerves designed to help control digestion are impacted. Food remaining in the stomach longer than it should-gastroparesis-causes heartburn, bloating, nausea and vomiting.
- Digestion, bowel and bladder functions as well as urinary tract infections are also a result of nerve damage caused by diabetes.
- Kidney failure, 44% of it, is brought on by diabetes, sometimes taking years of slow decline to be noticeable. This can lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant to treat it.
- Sexual response is lessened by diabetes and 35 to 50 per cent of diabetic men experience erectile dysfunction.
- Legs become weak and painful due to, once again, nerve damage.
- Hands and feet in diabetic individuals, 60 to 70%, become weak, painful and loose sensation, causing open sores, ulcers, and infections that the patient may not even be aware of having.
Some important, generalized steps to take right now include:
- Regular blood glucose checkups can establish a pattern of your levels, which should normally be between 70 and 100. Â
- A healthy diet and regular exercise are key to avoiding diabetes.Â
- Be aware of your family history and take extra precautions if there is evidence of this in your family.
- Maintenance of a healthy body weight is also very key. Be certain your Body Mass Index is within the desired level.
Eating a low-glucose diet is very important. Healthy eating is not only low calorie eating. Look at the foods you are using to fuel your body. Check the glycemic index of your foods.  One weight reduction program that concentrates on maintaining muscle mass and low glycemic foods is available online. Click here to learn more.
Dallas Health Helpers offers solutions to individuals who want to take preventative action to avoid health concerns in the future and have a more energetic, productive life now.  We are a springboard for building a foundation of good health that will propel one into a future of vitality.
Dallas Health Helpers has been involved in natural approaches to health for 26 years. We are located in Uptown Dallas, but our influence is nation wide.