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cases of diabetes according to the 2012 Diabetes Atlas Update published by the International Diabetes Federation.
Diabetes is estimated to kill 4,8 million adults in 2012 alone — one person every seven seconds. Even more frightening is that it’s estimated that only half of the diagnoses are even known to the sufferer.
“Four out of five of the people with diabetes live in low-and-middle-income countries, where health systems are struggling to keep pace with the growing burden of non-communicable disease,” says the IDF.
Type 2 diabetes was once thought to be a disease of the elderly and was reflectively called adult-onset diabetes. The name was forced to change due to the alarming rates of childhood-induced diabetes.
Increased pants size
People get fatter during the holiday season — it’s actually expected by many. It’s common to overeat, rely on comfort foods and completely forget about exercising. The holidays are a perfect recipe for developing diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that we only gain about a pound or two during the holidays but the problem is that we never lose it. Over time the added weight accumulates and can contribute to the development of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
During the holidays it is common to be stressed, over-worked and fatigued. This is a perfect combination that affects the hormones insulin and cortisol. Cortisol is notoriously known to store fat, especially around the abdomen. Abdominal fat is a leading risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.
The cortisol link is one of the reasons that we crave carbohydrates when we’re tired. This will result in eating closer to bedtime and will effectively pack on additional weight.
Junk food junkies
Holiday foods are addictive and it’s tough to stop eating. This is due to the powerful effect that sugar has on raising serotonin levels in one’s brain. Serotonin is a “feel-good” hormone and contributes to addiction and the overeating of junk foods. It’s important to eat more proteins and healthy fats instead of refined carbohydrates. However, it’s important to not consume highly processed proteins and fats. eats that are in a can, have added preservatives, excessive salt and nitrates are damaging to the body. The most common hazardous fats are located in cooking oils. Some of the best oils include olive, avocado and coconut.
Healthy fat and protein sources include eggs, nuts, cheeses, fish, lean beef and poultry. Proteins and healthy fats do not raise insulin and serotonin levels like processed carbohydrates do. This will result in less food craving and ultimately improved blood sugar and diabetes control.
Alkaline foods combat inflammation
Inflammation has been found to produce insulin resistance and contribute to diabetic complications. Diabetes is known to damage blood vessels, contribute to heart disease and cause premature death.
Lifestyle factors such as the consumption of alcohol, use of tobacco, excessive stress, deficient sleep, lack of exercise and a poor diet are all known to produce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a form of acidity within the body and the best way to combat acidity is to consume alkaline foods.
The body’s blood pH level must be slightly alkaline in order to heal, function and prevent disease. One’s pH level is ultimately a balance of acidity to alkalinity and is a direct result of the foods one chooses to eat.
This column is directed by your questions, comments and inquiries. The health advice provided is in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
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