Diabetes
& the Obesity Connection
Addressing
the Most Common Blockades for Dieters
Recent reports indicate that the
increase in cases of diabetes is strongly connected
with the obesity epidemic.
It's an
excellent idea to get tested if any of your relatives
have been diagnosed with diabetes - whether you are
overweight, or not.
Although
diabetes is a major cause of death, it generally progresses
to an aggressive, crippling disease that sends its victims
through a maze of health issues - attacking one part
of the body, then moving on to the next.
I saw the
damage firsthand that diabetes can inflict over a 30-year
period with my father. Over time, he had to have
one of his toes amputated and was quite lucky to have
kept his foot and his leg.
Diabetes
eventually took his vision. Once an avid gardener,
he was held prisoner inside the dark, spending most
of his last days listening to books, music and movies.
In the end,
diabetes contributed to kidney failure and eventually
heart failure which led to a 23-day dance with death
that was very difficult not only for my father, but
also for the family.
In between
the time that he lost his vision and his life, he battled
liver ailments, anemia, and high potassium levels -
something that the general public might find difficult
to understand. We hear more about the necessity
of getting more potassium into our daily diets than
about incidents of high potassium levels. And
high potassium levels can be lethal.
My father
loved to eat and relied heavily on the insulin setting
his body straight. Rather than watch what he ate,
he ate all he wanted, then loaded up with insulin to
counteract the food.
His family,
nor his many doctors were able to harness his love of
eating. And that 50 or so extra pounds that he
could never seem to lose played a big factor in his
struggle with diabetes.
If you have
diabetes, I hope you will do your best to monitor this
often frightening disease. Please take it seriously.
By doing such, you can reduce your risks and avoid
potential problems down the road.
Some basic
tips for diabetics:
Drop extra weight
Keep blood sugar levels under control
Eat a healthy diet
Don't smoke
Visit your doctor regularly
Visit your optometrist regularly
Visit your podiatrist regularly
Remain active
Talk with
your medical doctor about keeping a supply of tablets
on hand should your sugar reach low levels because this
can be extremely damaging to the heart.
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