THE COMING DIABETIC EPIDEMIC
Elisa S. Lottor, Ph.D.
Nutritionist: Pacifica Women’s Health
Maria came to my office with tears in her eyes: she was just diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. There is hardly a Latino whose lives have not touched by diabetes and consequently people are very much aware of the consequences of the disease . The purpose of this article is to as to inform people that diabetes can be prevented, and even reversed by taking appropriate steps, First: Diagnosis, then, gather information, and make lifestyle changes.
“Mexican Americans are 2 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Latino whites 13.6% of all Mexican Americans 20 years or older have Diabetes” (from Mexican Origin and Diabetes Health Fact Sheet, Sept. 2003. California Mexico Health Initiative, California Policy Research Center, U. of California.
WHAT IS DIABETES:
Diabetes is the inability to metabolize carbohydrates due to either inadequate insulin
production or because the insulin is not doing its job. People with diabetes cannot properly process glucose, the sugar that the body uses for energy, as a result glucose stays in the blood causing blood sugar to rise. At the same time, however, the cells of the body may be starved for glucose. People with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease, artherosclorosis, cataracts, strokes, poor wound healing, infections, damage to the kidneys, and nerves.
TYPES OF DIABETES:
There are two types of diabetes type 1 and type 2( often referred to as adult onset
Diabetes) . This article is about typed two diabetes
STATISTICS ON DIABETES IN VENTURA COUNTY
Clinic-based reports and regional studies indicate that type 2 diabetes is becoming more common among children and adolescents, particularly among American Indians, African Americans, and Latinos
According to the Ventura County Nutrition Profile, the number of people Diagnosed with Diabetes is 30,000 out of a population of 780,863. The number of Diabetes related deaths is 140. This study does not reflect complications from diabetes,such as blindness, heart disease, and amputations, or the many cases that have slipped through the cracks. The fact remains that many cases go unreported because people don’t realize they are diabetic .For every two people diagnosed with diabetes, one remains undiagnosed. If those estimated undiagnosed are factored into the Ventura County Projection the total number of diagnosed diabetes in VC is 43,948. (Ventura County Public Health-community Health Status Report) Many people mistakenly think that if they have no symptoms they are fine, but in reality, Diabetes is a “silent disease”. Many Hispanics at a greater risk for Diabetes due to hereditary disposition.
The focus is now switching from treatment to diagnosis and prevention
RISK FACTORS:
1. Being overweight
2. A sedentary lifestyle
3. High sugar or Alcohol consumption
4. Hereditary predisposition (Hispanic, African American, Native American, Pacific Islander)
5. A high fat diet
Symptoms:
extreme thirst
frequent urination
sudden weight gain or loss.
blurry vision
Exhaustion
but diabetes can exhibit no symptoms
DIAGNOSIS:
If you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes, get tested immediately. There are many places that offer free screenings such as: The County of Ventura, (805) 677-5252 or see your doctor. Fear keeps many people from getting tested because they think diabetes is a death sentence, when in reality, undiagnosed and untreated diabetes becomes one.
CHANGES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL
1. increase fiber
2. eat more unrefined foods including fruits and vegetables, start exercising
4. if you are overweight, lose weight
5. eat smaller portions more frequently
6. decrease consumption of highly sugared, and high fat foods.
Although Latinos continue to advance on many fronts, there has been a general decline in health (beginning now in children) due to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, elevated lipids(Cholesterol and Triglycerides). Unfortunately as second and third generation Latinos assimilate into this culture they adopt many bad habits including fast foods, soft drinks, high fat snacks, and a sedentary lifestyle.
SUPPLEMENTS:
(Before beginning any dietary changes, or supplement program speak to your health care provider)
Some of the supplements that have been well-researched as blood sugar regulators:
1. Nopales or cactus, eating this food seems to improve blood sugar levels.
2. Fish Oil (Omega 3 Fatty Acids)
Glucose tolerance improves in people taking fish oil supplements and in one study people with diabetic neuropathy experiences significant improvement when given fish oil.
3. Cinnamon: is gaining more attention for its ability to not only reduce blood glucose levels, but cholesterol, triglyceridces, as well as reduce inflammation
4. Onion, in double blind trials large amounts of onion was shown to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
5. Alpha Lipoic Acid seems to improve insulin sensitivity and help protect against diabetic complications such as nerve damage.
6. Brewers Yeast which provides Chromium helps regulate sugar
7. Cayenne due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties is presently being highly researched
8. Fenugreek seeds are very high in fiber.
9. Maitake SX-Fraction Mushroom -clinical studies indicated excellent results in managing
Metabolic Syndrome.
In my private practice as well as in my Clinic practice I have seen many
Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-diabetes patients, who have( under their doctor’s supervision) slowly tapered off all medications by controlling blood sugar. Once a person has lost excess weight, begins to exercise regularly, and changed his diet to low fat, whole foods diet, high in fiber, without refined carbohydrates, in many cases normal glucose levels can be maintained without medication.
When Maria left my office her face was much more relaxed as she was given specific information and encouragement that with appropriate choices she had a good chance of reversing her diabetes. Ten months later she had lost 20 lbs, was walking an hour a day, and taking charge of her diet. She had a huge smile on her face as she told me at first her doctor decreased her medication , then she was taken off all medication.
Dr. Elisa Lottor, has been in private practice for 23 years in Los Angeles and Santa
Barbara. and Ventura County.
Dr. Lottor Is the author of Female and Forgetful, and is bilingual
(Spanish) and bicultural. Frequent speaker, radio guest, corporate consultant, For more
information or to contact Dr. Lottor:
ELottor@aol.com
www.drlottor.com