Diabetes Management

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough or properly use insulin-the hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

The Three Major Types of Diabetes:

• Type 1-The body does not produce insulin.
• Type 2- The body does not produce enough insulin (insulin resistance).
• Gestational diabetes-Occurs in pregnant women who have never had diabetes, but have hive blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy

Who Is At Risk for Developing Diabetes?

• People with a first-degree relative with diabetes
• Obese people
• African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans
• Women who delivered a baby weighing more than 9 lbs. or had gestational diabetes
• People who are hypertensive with blood pressure higher than 140/90
• People with impaired fasting glucose values between 110 and 125

Additionally, if your diet consists of a lot of red or processed meats, high-fat dairy products or sweets, your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be increased. In contrast, if you eat more vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry and whole grains, you can modestly reduce your risk.

How Do I Prevent or Reduce the Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good nutrition can prevent or reduce Type 2 diabetes. Exercise programs are different for everyone. What matters is that you get your body moving. It's recommended that you exercise at least three times each week for 30 minutes at a time (10 minutes of stretching and warm-up followed by 20 minutes of gentle aerobic exercise).

• Make lifestyle changes with the goal of reducing your weight by 7 percent
• Maintain normal body weight
• Eat a healthy diet
• Refrain from smoking
• Individuals at risk should be followed closely with repeated examinations and measurements of fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol on an annual basis

Information submitted by Rim Joubran, MD, Endocrinologist. For more information, contact Dr. Joubran's office at (708) 681-7695.