Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are now considered international epidemics. In the United States, obesity tops smoking as the number one cause of preventable death.
What is Diabetes and Diabesity?
"Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin," explains Dr. Yvette-Marie Pellegrino, a Beaufort Memorial board-certified obesity medicine specialist. "Type 2 diabetes primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise.”
Left unchecked, diabetes can lead to heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, slow healing, hearing impairment, skin conditions, eye damage and potentially blindness.
The term “diabesity” was coined in 1973 to emphasize the relationship between obesity and diabetes:
- If you are obese, you are 20 times more likely to develop diabetes.
- Development of diabetes decreases significantly in people who control their weight by exercising and following a heart healthy diet.
- Prevention and initial management of diabetes are the same: control weight, especially around the mid-line.
Avoiding Diabetes
If you want to avoid following the "diabesity" trend and getting diabetes, there are three measures you should strive for:
- Keep your body mass index (BMI) below 25.
- Maintain a waist circumference at or less than 40 inches for males and 35 inches for females.
- Preserve a body fat percentage at or less than 25% for males and 32% for females.
For many, achieving and maintaining those goals can be difficult. However, the pay-off for working toward them can be big. A loss of 5-10% of body weight can improve insulin action, decrease fasting glucose concentrations and reduce the need for some diabetes medications.
If you are overweight and have had limited success with diets, Beaufort Memorial offers two programs that can help — the Healthy Weight physician-supervised weight loss program led by Dr. Pellegrino (your insurance may cover this program if you have other obesity-related diseases) and the Body Makeover program at LifeFit Wellness Center.
Manage Your Diabetes
If you have already developed type 2 diabetes, managing your disease is key to avoiding serious complications. In addition to weight-loss efforts, you can use these strategies to help keep your diabetes in check:
1. Balance your meals. A key part of diabetes management is nutrition. A healthy diabetes diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean protein while limiting excess sugar and trans fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. If you need help, speak to your primary care provider about the Diabetes Self-Management Program offered at the LifeFit Wellness Center.
2. Pay attention to carbohydrates. The body processes carbohydrates as sugar, which means too many carbs will increase blood sugar levels. Make sure you know how many carbs are in each of your meals to keep better tabs on your daily total. Using these diabetes-friendly recipes and the provided nutrition information can help.
3. Stay hydrated, especially while working out. High blood sugar levels put people with diabetes at an increased risk of dehydration.
4. Limit alcohol. Excess alcohol can cause blood sugar to dip to dangerous levels, not to mention that many cocktails have high carb counts. If you're going to drink, do it in moderation and opt for drinks with fewer carbs, such as light beers or dry wines.
5. Store your insulin properly. Both extreme heat and cold will break down insulin and render it ineffective. Keep insulin cartridges or pens that you're currently using at 56 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and store unused insulin medication in the refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees.
6. Sign up for free support. The American Diabetes Association offers a free 12-month online program, Living With Type 2 Diabetes, to help people manage the condition.
Your primary care provider is an important partner in managing diabetes who will monitor your general health and help coordinate your care. If you need help finding a primary care provider, search our provider directory.