| The type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder | | | | carbohydrate and high fat diet, your body will |
| that is often preventable but sad to say, the | | | | become less sensitive to insulin. It compensates by |
| condition is on the rise worldwide. Diabetes is now | | | | making more insulin. Years later, the pancreas will |
| affecting 246 million people and is expected to hit | | | | simply give up. The insulin level drops and the blood |
| 380 million by 2025. Each year a further 7 million | | | | sugar begin to rise. Insulin resistance leads to obesity. |
| people develop diabetes. It is now the fourth leading | | | | In order to prevent and treat diabetes, you have to |
| cause of global death by disease. Among the | | | | take note of the following points: |
| complications of diabetes are heart and blood vessel | | | | 1. Eat a balanced diet by combining good |
| disease including stroke and heart attack, nerve | | | | protein and good fat with low glycemic |
| damage, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney failure. | | | | carbohydrates. The protein and fats can be obtained |
| Diabetes is the largest cause of kidney failure and is | | | | from vegetables and its oils, olive oil, nuts, beans. It is |
| responsible for huge dialysis costs. At least 50% of all | | | | also available from the cold water fish such as salmon |
| people with diabetes are unaware of their condition | | | | and tuna which are rich in the omega 3 fatty acids. |
| and in some countries this figure may be as high as | | | | Protein is also available from fowl. Get the |
| 80%. However, up to 80% of type 2 diabetes is | | | | carbohydrates from whole fruits and vegetables. |
| preventable if we adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle, | | | | Avoid refined foods. Foods like fiber, brussels |
| and increase physical activity. | | | | sprouts, cucumbers, green beans, soy beans, tofu |
| Even though you are not currently diagnosed with | | | | and garlic have an insulin-like action on the body and |
| diabetes, you can prevent diabetes from endangering | | | | should be included in the diet regularly. |
| your life. One way to keep this dreadful disease at | | | | 2. Ensure that you have plenty of exercise. |
| bay is to constantly monitor your health and diet. | | | | Exercise will make your body more sensitive to insulin. |
| Make it a habit to go for a complete blood test at | | | | A brisk walk of 30-45 minutes three times weekly is |
| least once a year. From the results of your lipid | | | | more than sufficient. |
| profile, take note of the values of triglycerides and | | | | 3. Maintain a regular intake of supplements |
| the high density lipoprotein (HDL). The triglyceride | | | | including the following: |
| HDL ratio should be less than 2. Any ratio in excess | | | | Multi vitamins and minerals supplement 1 capsule daily |
| of 2 indicates the tendency of developing diabetes | | | | Vitamin C 1-2 gm daily |
| later in life. You may be having what is known as | | | | Vitamin E 400 I.U. daily |
| Syndrome X as described by Dr Gerald Reaven of | | | | Selenium 150 mcg daily |
| Stanford University (1988). | | | | Omega 3 capsule 1000 mg daily |
| According to medical research, insulin resistance is a | | | | Evening primrose capsule 1000mg daily |
| major factor in the development of the syndrome. | | | | 4. Eliminate coffee, alcohol, smoking, |
| When you continually consume sugar, high | | | | nervous exhaustion, stress and obesity. |
