Diabetes – is it here to stay?

Article first published as Is Diabetes Here to Stay? on Technorati.

 

A study in The Lancet Journal published by a team of researchers working with the World Health Organization (WHO) found that diabetes has either remained unchanged or increased worldwide.

According to the WHO, “80% of people with diabetes live in low and middle income countries…and, are middle-aged (45-64), not elderly (65+).”

The study analyzed health surveys and epidemological studies since 1980 which covered 2.7 million participants. They found that diabetes more than doubled for the period between 1980 and 2008 to 347 million with slightly more men affected.

According to Reuters.com, “This study found that of the 347 million people with diabetes, 138 million live in China and India and another 36 million in the United States and Russia.”

Glycemic Index

No surprise, considering the main staple of China is rice: white rice. White rice has a high glycemic index ranging from 72 to 89. The Glycemic Index (GI) ranks foods on a scale of 0 to 100 based on their affect on blood sugar. The closer to 100 a food is, the higher the fluctuations in blood sugar.

Other foods high on the scale include white bread and russet potatoes.

Individuals with diabetes monitor their blood glucose levels closely. “Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin,” according to The American Diabetes Association.

Two Types

I am very familiar with this disease as both types run in my family.  Type 1 is when the body fails to produce insulin and is usually diagnosed in children or young adults. Type 2, the most common and preventable, is when the body does not produce enough or utilize insulin efficiently.

Insulin is the hormone responsible for taking sugar out of our blood to be used for energy.

New Drugs

Diabetes research is also increasing and a new drug to treat Type 1 may be on the way.

In an article on WebMD the drug Teplizumab appears to help the body preserve its insulin producing cells [beta cells] in the pancreas.

According to the article on WebMD, “Preserving your own beta cell function is far better than relying on insulin [injections or a pump],” says Kevan Herold, MD, a Yale University endocrinologist who is heading another study of teplizumab.”

For those with Type 2 diabetes a diet that includes Omega-6 fatty acids, such as those found in fish and lean meats, may help maintain blood sugar levels. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the effects of diets rich in Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids (essential fatty acids). The study found that a diet that includes both fatty acids may be recommended to Type 2 diabetics.

Of the two types of diabetes, Type 2 is preventable through diet and exercise. The increase in diabetes is here to stay unless you start making positive healthy changes.