Hello everyone. It's great to be back for another year at CAMP Rehoboth. The holidays are behind us, but the cold weather is still with us. Brrrrr. It's been a really cold one so far this year. If you don't believe me, check my propane bills!
If you've been reading my column over the past few years, you know that I rant and rave about people dragging around their fat bellies, big cans, and thunderous thighs. I've been pointing out all the government studies that show people in this country are getting even fatter. At this rate, the post office is going to be assigning people their own zip codes if they get any larger. HA!
Now if you think I've mellowed out, you're wrong. I'm still on my soap box. What really set me off this week was a shocking story that's a direct result of people porking themselves up.
It seems that diabetes in the U.S. rose an astounding 6 percent in ONE YEAR, 1999. Even the government says this is "dramatic evidence of an unfolding epidemic." The reason they're so alarmed is that fatness is strongly associated with diabetes. In fact, 50-80 percent of all cases of Type II diabetes are linked to poor lifestyle and diet. Obesity is up a whopping 57 percent since 1991, so it was only a matter of time.
Cases of diabetes have risen sharply among all demographic categories. The sharpest increase was among those age 30 to 39. And I used to think diabetes was an old person's disease. I stand corrected!
For those of you who don't know what diabetes is all about, let me give a brief explanation. Some people think that all you have to do if you have diabetes is to take insulin, maybe once or twice a day, and you're cured. Well, not so. It can be controlled in most cases, but not all. And for many diabetics, there are very serious side effects that occur over time. How serious? Blindness, heart and kidney problems, stroke, and circulation problems which can actually lead to the amputation of feet or legs. Not fun, hon.
The exact cause of diabetes is unknown. In Type I, the body is unable to produce insulin. In Type II, the body can't properly use the insulin it does produce. Insulin regulates the glucose (sugar) level in the blood. Without it, glucose levels stay too high, and many critical body functions are harmed.
Let's differentiate between Type I and Type II diabetes. Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type I) is less common but much more severe. These people have damage to the pancreas, an organ near your stomach that contains beta cells, which produce insulin. In most cases, the immune system itself attacks the beta cells. Without these insulin-producing cells, glucose builds up. Symptoms include an inexplicable weight loss, frequent urination, constant hunger and thirst, vision problems, fatigue, or reduced level of consciousness that can range from drowsiness to a coma.
Type II is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 80 percent or more of all diabetes cases. People with this condition either don't produce enough insulin to control glucose levels, or their cells don't respond correctly to insulin. The main problem is that the body resists insulin's glucose-regulating effects. Onset of symptoms, if they occur, is gradual. They can include headache, blurry vision, excessive thirst, frequent urination, or dry, itchy skin. Some people may not know they have Type II diabetes because they have no signs or symptoms for many years, putting them at risk for serious complications.
How do you reduce your risk of developing diabetes? By maintaining a healthy body weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating well. Join a health club, start a regular exercise regimen, and stick to it. Most people with diabetes give it a couple weeks, then you never see them again. Until they start having complications and their doctor orders them back to the gym.
It's amazing to me the number of people I come across at my club who are diabetic. It's even more amazing that some of them don't take it seriously. They're often haphazard in their exercise schedule and consume way too much fast food. Hello people! This is your life!
If you're smart, you'll have a physical checkup every so often, where your doctor will do urine and blood tests for diabetes. Then a doctor must consider various factors to determine if it's Type I or II. Generally, people with Type I are diagnosed when they're under 30 years old, lean, and have high levels of ketones (toxins your body produces when it breaks down fat for energy) in their urine. People with Type II are most often diagnosed when they're obese and over 30. They usually do not have urine ketones.
If you find you have this disease, you should take advantage of some good free resources to manage it. I recently discovered that one of our area supermarkets, namely the Super G in Rehoboth Beach, is offering store tours for people with diabetes and their families. They show you proper shopping techniques and the pharmacist goes over the diabetes supplies and services available in the pharmacy.
It takes about 2 hours to go through the store, including a hands-on tour looking at food labels, and personalized, expert advice from a dietitian. Tours start at the end of March and continue through May. You need to go to Super G and register no later than March 15th, plus pay a $15 fee$5 of which is donated to the American Diabetes Association. And if you go to www.supergfood.com, you get a $5 discount for joining their diabetes club.
If you are diabetic, I highly recommend that you take advantage of this. The information could prove invaluable.
Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Visit his club, Rick's Fitness & Health, in downtown Milton, Delaware or www.ricksfitness.net, or call him at 302-684-3669.