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The Facts About Diabetes If you can focus on one day at a time and keep small goals in reach, the outcomes will be amazing.” — Kristine Scanlan, MS, RD, LDN, Bradford Regional Medical Center If you’re shocked to learn an estimated 7 million Americans are living with undiagnosed diabetes, this may be even more surprising: With just 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, combined with a 5 to 10 percent loss in body weight, roughly 58 percent of people with diabetes could get rid of the condition. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin. After a meal, the digestion process breaks food down into nutrients and fuels, such as glucose. For glucose to be used properly, insulin—a hormone made in the pancreas—must move glucose from the blood stream into the body’s cells, a process that stimulates growth and creates energy. For someone who has diabetes, the digestion process is a little different. When glucose enters the blood stream, it can’t pass into cells. This may be caused by overproduction or underproduction of insulin in the pancreas. In some cases, the cells may reject the insulin. Blood glucose levels rise until this vital fuel source is filtered out of the blood and passed through the urine. Count the Types According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 25.8 million Americans have diabetes. The vast majority— about 90 to 95 percent—has Type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the pancreas produces an insufficient amount of insulin or cells reject insulin. Only five percent of people who have diabetes have Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the body’s insulin-producing beta cells. Type 1 diabetes is most commonly discovered in early childhood. For about four percent of pregnant women, gestational diabetes develops around the 24th week of pregnancy as hormones in the placenta that aid the baby’s growth block the natural insulin process. 6 brmc.com
Power Your Plate If you have diabetes, maintaining a diet that meets your medical needs—while still incorporating the foods you love—may seem impossible. Take the headache out of cooking with six simple steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Make three sections on your dinner plate. Create one portion that takes up half of the dish and two that account for one-fourth each. Chose a dark, leafy green vegetable, such as collards or spinach, for the largest portion. Fill the first small section with a starchy food, such as fiber-filled beans, magnesium-packed wholegrain pasta or brown rice, or a vitamin A-rich sweet potato. Pick a lean protein for the second small portion. Salmon is a great choice, as it is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Fulfill your dairy requirement by pairing your meal with an eight-ounce glass of fat-free milk or a six-ounce serving of Greek yogurt. Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth with a naturally sweet piece of fruit. Spot the Risks “While diabetes awareness has improved, there should be more work done in terms of prediabetes education,” said Cindy Simms, RN, CDE, Program Coordinator of the Center for Diabetes at Bradford Regional Medical Center. “A healthy lifestyle can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.” Prediabetes is a serious medical condition, but it doesn’t always lead to Type 2 diabetes. In fact, those who have prediabetes can delay and even prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes simply by cutting out extra calories, improving exercise habits and speaking with a primary care physician about management options for prediabetes risk factors, including a body mass index higher than 25, a family history of Type 2 diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle. Taking Action A diabetes diagnosis may seem daunting, but a multidisciplinary healthcare team can provide the proper resources and support required for whole-body care. “Diabetes care should be managed through a coordinated effort,” said Mary Fay, RDN, CDC, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Olean General Hospital. “One of the most important people on your team is a certified diabetes educator who meets the standards of the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators.” Depending on a person’s individual case, appointments with an endocrinologist, nephrologist, optometrist, podiatrist and/or registered dietitian may also be necessary. “It can be so easy for people to become overwhelmed by a diabetes diagnosis and feel frustrated by the lifestyle modifications they are having to make,” said Kristine Scanlan, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian at Bradford Regional Medical Center. “If you can focus on one day at a time and keep small goals in reach, the outcomes will be amazing.” To contact a certified diabetes educator at Bradford Regional Medical Center, call 814.362.8717. at Olean General Hospital, CALL 716.375.6297. ogh.org 7
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