Diabetes – What You Need To Know
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an epidemic, it is a disease we have probably all heard of, and perhaps know someone who is diabetic.
Commonly known as diabetes, the full name is actually “diabetes mellitus”. The word “diabetes” is derived from Greek to mean “that which passes through”, while “mellitus” has its origin from Latin to mean “honey”. In other words, sugar “passes through” (or cannot be utilized by) a diabetic.
Essentially, diabetes is a condition in which metabolism of carbohydrates is problematic. After ingestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose which is then transported by the blood stream from the intestines to the rest of the body. Upon entry into cells, glucose undergoes a series of biochemical reactions, collectively known as glycolysis, to produce pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid is then sent into the mitochondria (the “power plants” of cells) to provide us with energy.
The entry of glucose into cells is controlled by a hormone called insulin. The presence of glucose in the blood stream triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas, signaling the cells to take it up.
With diabetes, one of two things can occur: either the pancreas does not secrete insulin (type I diabetes), or the cells do not respond to the insulin that is secreted (type II diabetes). The majority of diabetes cases are type II, which generally develops after the age of 40. Type I diabetes is often referred to congenital or juvenile diabetes, which is not the focus of this article.
The reason it is important to understand diabetes is because if it is left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications such as amputation, blindness and kidney failure.
Who is at risk of developing diabetes?
Diabetes is often associated with obesity and high blood pressure. Having either one of these conditions predisposes you to diabetes, and having both would increase this risk even further. The good news is that obesity and high blood pressure are both preventable (in most cases) through a healthy lifestyle.
The predisposition to developing diabetes also has a genetic component. If one or both of your parents or grandparents is/are diabetic, then you have a greater chance of becoming diabetic. That being said, it is important to note that genetics are heavily influenced by environmental factors. Thus lifestyle is the key determinant of whether one actually develops this condition.
Signs and Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes can have a number of different symptoms such as excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue and irritability. In the early stages it may not present any symptoms at all; this is why it is important to understand the risk factors and regularly screen for this condition.
Diagnosis of diabetes
The diagnosis of diabetes is a simple blood test, known as the fasting glucose test. This test simply measures the concentration of glucose in the blood after a 12 hour fast. A normal reading would be equal to or less than 7mmol/dL; so a value above 7mmol/dL would categorize one to be diabetic.
Prevention of diabetes
The key preventative measure against diabetes is healthy lifestyle – well balanced diet, regular exercise and good stress management.
Diet
The most important dietary focus on diabetes prevention is carbohydrates. The goal is to slow down the release of glucose into the blood stream. This way, the pancreas is not overwhelmed by a sudden, extreme increase of blood glucose concentration (or sugar spike). The following are two rules of thumb to follow:
1) Choose complex carbohydrates over simple ones.
Complex Carbohydrates are minimally processed, or whole grains (brown rice, Kamut, Barley, steel cut oats etc.). The less processed a grain is, the more time it requires to be broken down by our digestive system. Simple carbohydrates are those that have been extensively processed. These include: white flour, rice flour, instant oats etc., which should be avoided as much as possible.
2) Combine carbohydrates with fibres, fats and/or proteins.
Fibres, fats and proteins, compared to carbohydrates, require more time to digest. By combining these groups with carbohydrates, we slow down the digestion of the meal to sustain a steady and slow increase of blood glucose.
Exercise
Type II diabetes results from a decrease of sensitivity of cells to insulin; exercise increases cells’ sensitivity to insulin. Exercise also helps to achieve, as well as maintain, a healthy body weight, decreases cholesterol and decreases blood pressure.
In order to achieve weight loss through exercise, one should exercise at least three times a week, each time lasting approximately 30 minutes. To lose weight, we need to target the heart rate to 60-70% of your maximum heart rate during exercise.
Stress management
When we are under stress for prolonged periods of time, the level of a hormone known as cortisol is raised. Increased cortisol levels have been found to induce diabetes. Developing a healthy attitude toward situations beyond our control and good stress management skills can help with diabetes prevention.
We may not be able to control what kind of stressful situations are presented to us, we can control how we deal with these situations.
Treatment for diabetes
Although pharmaceutical drugs are available to help with the control of blood glucose, long term use can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, the liver and/ or the kidneys. That being said, it is important to speak to your doctor if you are diabetic to discuss whether a pharmaceutical approach is suitable for you. Short-term use or low dose anti-diabetic drugs may be necessary in cases of severe diabetes.
In the meantime, aside from following the above lifestyle guidelines, a large number of natural supplements have been found to be effective with blood glucose control. Some of the more commonly used ones are fenugreek, chromium, cinnamon and goji berry.
Higher than normal levels of blood sugar leads to tissue damage (which is what causes the serious consequences like nerve damage, visual problems and kidney failure), antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid help to minimize this damage.
Also, extra virgin coconut oil is a good source of healthy fat that can be incorporated into meals; not only will it help with preventing sugar spikes, it also is a healthy source of calories if you are losing weight as a result of diabetes. Extra virgin coconut oil does not lead to increased cholesterol.
It is important to remember that no matter what method you choose to control your diabetes, regular monitoring of blood glucose is crucial. This is especially important when you are using both pharmaceutical drugs as well as natural supplements, as it is possible to have abnormally low blood glucose (also called hypoglycemia). It is not recommended to alter or even begin your diabetic treatment using natural supplements without consulting a licensed health care provider such as a naturopathic doctor.
Dr. Lei Gu received her Bsc (hon) from U of T (double major – biological sciences & neuroscience) in 2002. She is a 2007 graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and currently practices as a ND at Journey to Cure Naturopathic Clinic for Her in North York, Ontario. Her special interest in diabetes stems from a strong family history of diabetes. She is also knowledgable in Traditional Chinese Medicine, clinical nutrition and herbal medicine.
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