How your diet and lifestyle may be increasing your risk of diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Since one in ten Canadians live with the condition, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacist and owner, Hugh Toner, wants everyone to know the warning signs, and how to manage the the symptoms if it affects you, or someone you love.

Diabetes is a chronic disease, in which the body either cannot produce insulin, or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of sugar in the blood. Diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels, which can damage organs, blood vessels and nerves. The body needs insulin to use sugar as an energy source.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very little, insulin is released into the body. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About five to 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes generally develops in childhood or adolescence, but can develop in adulthood.

Type 1 diabetes is always treated with insulin. Meal planning also helps with keeping blood sugar at the right levels.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t properly use the insulin that is released (called insulin insensitivity) or does not make enough insulin. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes more often develops in adults, but children can be affected.

Depending on the severity of type 2 diabetes, it may be managed through physical activity and meal planning, or may also require medications and/or insulin to control blood sugar more effectively.]

Signs and symptoms can include the following:

• Unusual thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight change (gain or loss)
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Frequent or recurring infections
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your health-care provider right away. Even if you don’t have symptoms, if you are 40 or older, you should still get checked at least every three years to annually.

It is important to recognize, however, that many people who have type 2 diabetes may display no symptoms.

Anyone over the age of 40 should be tested for diabetes every three years. Some common risk factors include:

• Having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes = Genetic
• Having high blood pressure
• Having high cholesterol or other fats in the blood
• Being overweight, especially if that weight is mostly carried around the tummy

LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE ONCE DIAGNOSED

• Measuring blood glucose frequently
• Exercise and activity
• Weight management
• Possibly adjustments to prescriptions or over-the-counter products which may interfere with your treatment plan. Your pharmacist can assist with helping make these adjustments
• Diet adjustments - limit the amount of high carbohydrate or high glycemic index (GI) foods as these significantly raise the blood sugar in diabetes
• Be sure to eat protein and healthy fats. It is important to get enough protein at each meal

FOODS TO AVOID

• Bread, pasta, cereal, and other grains
• Starchy vegetables like potatoes or sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, onions
• Legumes like peas, lentils or beans (except green beans)
• Fruit (excluding berries)
• Beer

FOODS TO EAT

• Meat, poultry, seafood
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Non-starchy vegetables such as asparagus, bell peppers, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, etc
• Avocados
• Olive oil, coconut oil

Your pharmacist can play a role in helping you manage diabetes.  Many are certified diabetes educators (CDE).  They can be easily accessible. Often physicians may not have time to coach you through the process and lifestyle changes one diagnosed which is where the pharmacist comes in.

For more information and to find a location nearest you, visit The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy