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Vol. 13 No. 6
Janine Freeman, RD, LD, CDE |
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November is American Diabetes Month November is American Diabetes Month. The American Diabetes Association sponsors a variety of diabetes programs and educational events offered throughout the state of Georgia and nationally to people with diabetes and their families. Some of the diabetes programs offered in Georgia include:
Call 1-888-DIABETES for information about these programs. These programs are generally offered each year in November, so if it's too late to sign up this year, keep these in mind for next year. Watch your local newspaper and other media for information on any other local diabetes programs offered in your area. You can get a free informational packet on diabetes by calling 1-800-Diabetes. Visit the American Diabetes Association at their website at www.diabetes.org or Georgia's site at www.diabetes.org/adaga/. To get information on a diabetes educator in your area, contact the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) to get information on a diabetes educator in your area at 800-338-3633 or www.aadenet.org.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy Did you ever stop to think how important your heart is? Your heart has a big job to do. Think of your heart and blood vessels as a plumbing system - your heart pumps blood, which carries nutrients and oxygen through your blood vessels to all parts of your body. And since you can't live without it, I'd say your heart ranks up there as very important! Most of us take for granted that our heart will still be ticking away when we reach a ripe, old age. But diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. So, if you have diabetes, you need to take extra care of your heart. Diabetes can cause your blood vessels to become narrow and can increase the amount of fat (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood. This can make it difficult for blood to go through. If a major blood vessel going back to the heart becomes blocked, the result can be a heart attack. A stroke can occur if an artery that leads to your brain is clogged. There are several things you can do to help keep your heart in good shape. Blood Fats You probably already know that you should keep you total cholesterol level less than 200 mg/dl. It's also important to know what your LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels are. The LDL, the type that clogs the arteries, should be less than 100 mg/dl when you have diabetes. An easy way to remember LDL is to think of it as "lousy" cholesterol. HDL (think of this as the "healthy" cholesterol, the type that helps remove cholesterol from your arteries) should be more than 45 mg/dl for males and more than 55 for females. You can improve your cholesterol levels by changing the type and amount of fat you eat. Select foods high in monounsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil) in place of some of the saturated fats (butter, bacon, cheese, fatty meat) and trans fats. Trans fats are formed when liquid oils are made into solid vegetable fats like stick margarine. Blood Pressure Recently, studies have shown us that it is even more important that previously thought to keep your blood pressure as close to normal as possible when you have diabetes. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. High blood pressure can cause hardening of the arteries and is sometimes linked to kidney disease. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly and take medication if prescribed. A healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, eating less salt and keeping your weight in check can help keep your blood pressure where is should be. Activity Increasing your physical activity can do more for your health than you realize. Not only can it help lower blood glucose levels and blood pressure, it can also improve blood fat levels. Of course, any increase in activity can also help with weight control. Walking is a great form of activity and one that most people can do. Walking for 30-45 minutes at least 3-5 times per week is recommended for most people. Swimming, bicycling, aerobic dance, and about any type of physical activity can be of some benefit. Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program for specific guidelines. Overweight Extra weight can put an extra burden on your heart in addition to making you more resistant to insulin and making it more difficult to control your blood glucose levels. If you would like to lose weight, try eating less fat and increasing your activity level. You may want to consult with a registered dietitian or a county extension agent to help get you started on a weight loss plan. Many people benefit from attending regular group sessions. Ask your local county extension agent if there are any programs in your area. It all boils down to healthy living. A lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, eating healthy, and keeping your blood glucose in control is bound to benefit your heart. Since your heart needs to last a lifetime, treat it with the care it deserves.
Children and Type 2 Diabetes The alarming increase in childhood obesity in our country appears to have given rise to an unusual type of diabetes in children: type 2. Usually associated with overweight adults, the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children has been increasing dramatically in the past few years, particularly in obese, minority children. The type of diabetes most frequently diagnosed during childhood is type 1, when the body no longer produces insulin. Insulin injections or pump therapy are required for treatment. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in younger people who are not overweight. The most common type of diabetes, type 2, occurs when the body becomes resistant to its own insulin and is unable to use the insulin it makes. Although heredity is a factor, obesity markedly increases the risk of developing this type of diabetes. A number of studies of youths with type 2 diabetes showed that minority children have a much higher risk of the disease than Caucasian children. Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, especially if obese, were much more likely to have type 2 diabetes. The reasons for this dramatic increase are not yet fully understood. Studies confirm the link between obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes. There appears to be a difference in the level of insulin resistance at various degrees of obesity between minority groups. This needs to be further studied. The prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in children is challenging. Since obesity is a big factor, we need to try to influence what children eat and how much activity they get. We know that in this age group it's sometimes difficult to get children to do what's best for their health. We can begin by encouraging children to increase their activity level. This doesn't mean they need jog for 30 minutes a day. Instead, start limiting television and computer time. Not only is TV linked to inactivity, but kids also tend to eat what's advertised, and eat while watching TV. Negotiate with your child that for every half hour in front of the TV, they must play outside for 1 hour. Plan activities with your children that involve outdoor activities like bicycling, hiking or going for walks. Purchase sports or recreational equipment like soccer balls, baseball and bat, or tennis racquets, to encourage participation. Purchase more fruits and vegetables and low-fat snack foods. Avoid buying regular snack chips, candy, sodas and ice cream. Try eating at home more often. It's difficult to avoid a lot of high-fat meals if your child eats frequently at fast food restaurants. Your child's doctor may recommend that you and your child talk with a registered dietitian. Your local county extension agent can guide you in the right direction in selecting better food choices and increasing physical activity. We can influence our children's behavior. If type 2 diabetes can be prevented or at least postponed by lifestyle changes that help to maintain normal weight and physical activity, we owe it to our children to do our part. Herbal Therapy: Is It a Healthy and Safe Choice? Long ago, people used herbs from plants for healing. Many years later, medicines were developed in standard doses from remedies that were proven effective in treating a disease. Today, we're going back to using basic "natural" herbs like they're new discoveries! And we're spending lots of money on unproved remedies with the hope that they will help cure a disease. Most ancient herb recipes that have survived the passage of time and are useful medical therapies are already being used in prescription and ethical over-the-counter products. Today many herbs are being advertised for the treatment of about every disease or condition known. And, with the explosion of these products on the grocery shelves, health food stores, and drug stores, there's major concern that we might risk our health if we take these herbs. Our awareness of the risks of herbal medicines is very limited compared to drugs. Several issues of concern include 1) side effects of the herb, 2) purity (contaminants), 3) interaction with drugs, 4) effect with certain diseases and 5) standardized dosing. Herbs are not regulated for purity and safety by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) as are medications. Manufacturers of herbal medicines do not have to guarantee that the product contains what is on the label or in what amount. In fact, when tests were conducted on some of the herbs purchased in stores, many did not contain any of the active ingredient listed on the label. And, even if the herb itself is safe, herbs can be contaminated with potentially dangerous ingredients that can result in illness or even death. Some herbs may have adverse effects with some diseases. For example, some have been shown to increase blood glucose levels. Herbs can also cause interactions with other prescription medication. For example, ginkgo, ginger, ginseng, garlic, and feverfew may alter bleeding time and should not be used by people taking blood thinners. In addition, most herbs have not been tested in well-designed studies. A lot of the information is testimonial, meaning that someone used the herb and claimed that it improved their disease or condition. For information to be reliable, products need to go through the same rigorous scientific studies as medications to determine their usefulness and safety. The lack of clinical studies often leaves health care professionals with little or no reliable information about many of the herbs to be able to inform you of the dangers or benefits. One of the reasons for the increased popularity of herbal therapy is that the treatment is considered "natural." Many people mistakenly believe that if a product is natural it must be safe and effective. But natural does not mean is has fewer side effects or is safer than other medications. In fact, it may be less safe since it has not gone through the appropriate testing and you may not be aware of the side effects or interactions with other medications. A number of herbs are being promoted as having beneficial effects on blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. A few of these include ackee fruit, alfalfa, aloe vera, bilberry fruit, burdock root, fenugreek, ginseng and capsicum (cayenne pepper). Although many of these look promising, more studies are needed before it can be determined that they have a significant benefit in diabetes therapy. Some herbs that have been reported to be toxic or to cause severe reactions include chaparral, comfrey, dieter's teas, ephedra (ma huang), germander, lobelia, nettle, passion flower, sassafras, witch hazel, mistletoe, willow bark, wormwood and yohimbe. This list does not include all herbs that may be harmful. Be sure to talk with your doctor and research any herb you plan to take. Flavoring foods with herbs is a lot less risky than taking herbs to treat disease. These seemingly harmless herbs, taken regularly, act like a drug. The good news is that government agencies and the medical community are getting together to get more reliable information on herbs by doing scientific research studies. In the meantime, if you plan to use herbs, do your homework, talk with your doctor and be skeptical of advertiser's claims.
Recommendations for Use of Herbs 1) Be sure to tell your doctor what herbs you are using. Your doctor may be able to tell you if they will have a negative effect on your diabetes or other conditions or interfere with any medications you are taking.2) Inform your doctor of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins and minerals, that you are taking. This will help prevent interactions between herbs and drugs. 2) Inform your doctor of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins and minerals, that you are taking. This will help prevent interactions between herbs and drugs. 3) Read as much as you can about the herbs you are considering using. Don't rely on a friend's or salesperson's advice. If claims are made that seem too good to be true, be wary. Seek more information from other sources. 4) Buy herbs with labels that show the scientific name of the herb, the dose, the name and address of the manufacturer, a lot number, the date of manufacture, and an expiration date. 5) Stop taking the herb if you experience any unusual effects. Resources for Information on Herbs and Diabetes National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse
Office of Dietary Supplements
American Botanical Council
Herb Research Foundation
Tyler's Herbs of Choice
8 servings
Nutrition Information:
Document use: Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and the University of Georgia receive acknowledgement and the notice is included:
Reprinted with permission from the University of Georgia. Available from: In Georgia: Contact your local County Extension Office. Out of state: Distribution Center Cooperative Extension Service University of Georgia 305 Riverbend Road Athens, GA 30602 Fax: (706) 542-2162 Phone: (706) 542-8946 Email: eruark@arches.uga.edu Content Person Contact: Janine Freeman, RD, LD, CDE Copyright Permission: (706) 542-4860 Document Review: level 2: Department Peer Review Document Size: Publication Date: 1999-09-01 Entry Date: 1999-09-28 Pull Date: 2001-09-01 Pub #: DBL13-5
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