It’s Only Diabetes

Michael J. Lyons, D.O., Chief Medical Officer, Coastal Gateway Health Center

Type 2 Diabetes, also known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellites (diabetes) is very common.  More than 34 million people in the United State have Type 2 Diabetes and that equates to about 1 in 10 adults. In the United States alone, every year about 1.4 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed. It is estimated that 96 million Americans have pre-diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is the ‘mild’ kind:

Diabetes has tremendous morbidity and mortality associated with it. Type 2 Diabetes is considered a cardiac equivalent. What does that mean? That by simply having diabetes you have a twenty percent chance of having a heart attack in the next five years; that is the same odds as someone who already had a heart attack having a second heart attack.  Additionally, the vascular changes that occur from diabetes affect the heart, kidneys, stomach, intestine, reproductive organs, and extremities. Potentially causing peripheral vascular disease (loss of blood to feet and hands), erectile disfunction, coronary artery disease (heart disease), renal failure (kidney failure), diabetic gastroparesis (sluggish, painful gut), diabetic retinopathy (visual loss), and cerebral vascular accident (stroke). Diabetes is responsible for nearly 80,000 deaths a year.

Truth or Fiction about Diabetes:

Misconception that sugar-free snacks are good for you. Sugar-free chocolates, cakes and cookies do not have sugar but are not necessarily a healthy choice. These choices can be high in saturated fats and have potential carcinogenic ingredients. It is better to have small quantity of the ‘real deal’ when a craving hits.

It is a misconception that diabetic patients should not eat fruit. Fruit does contain sugar but is a complex form of sugar that must be broken down, not typically causing a large spike in your blood sugar. Additionally, fruit contains fiber which is very helpful to your body. When deciding to withdraw a food because of sugar content, look at other items in your diet first that could be less healthy than fruits that could be causing an increase in blood sugar.

Another misconception is that diabetes is caused by sugar. Type 2 Diabetes is not caused by sugar. However, the chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes goes up in patients that are overweight and have high caloric intake (sugar is high in calories) that is associated with weight gain.

The last misconception we will discuss is that you ‘can’t eat sweets’.  It is true that eating sweets is counterproductive, causing your blood sugar to go up and potentiating weight gain. This doesnot mean you have to exclude all sweets from your diet. All things in moderation, simply try to consume less and not daily.

So, what do I need to do?

The things you already know; eat healthy, regular exercise, lose weight, take your medications, follow your providers advice, and monitor your blood sugar.  Diabetes is a chronic disease that is very serious and will alter your lifestyle. However, along with routine provider visits, management of your medications and a sensible approach to your management goals, you will be able to better control your diabetes and not have your diabetes control you.

Coastal Gateway Health Center can be reached by phone at 409.296.4444 or by email at [email protected].  Or for more information regarding our services and programs, please visit our website at www.coastalgatewayhc.org or find and follow us on Facebook.  We are proud to be #yourcommunityhealthcenter.