Not her 'type': A special note to women about diabetes risk.

 Appeared Sunday, November 19, 2006

As Thanksgiving seems to be the official kick off to the over-eating season, this time of year, there's advice everywhere about keeping the pounds from piling up.  

But there is another important reason for women to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holidays and all year round.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 9.7 million women in the US have diabetes; almost one third of these women are undiagnosed.  Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes accounting for 90 to 95 percent of diagnosed cases.  In Type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood properly, resulting from the body's inadequate response to the production of the natural hormone insulin, or when production of insulin is too low.  Due to the hectic lives of women today, symptoms such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, and fatigue often are overlooked and thus many women go undiagnosed.

Knowing your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes is essential to prevention.  Having one or more risk factor does not mean that you will definitely develop it, but it is important to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.  

Risks include:

• Being age 45 or older

• Obesity

• Family history of diabetes

• Diabetes during pregnancy

• Physical inactivity

• Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose

• Being a Native American, African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or a Pacific Islander 

Challenges unique to women

Diabetes poses a unique challenge for women.  The hormone fluctuations that occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect glucose levels.  Keeping close track of glucose levels will help your doctor determine what steps to take to properly maintain your health during these hormonal shifts.

At-risk and diabetic women who are planning to become pregnant need to manage their health properly before and during the pregnancy as high glucose levels can be passed to the fetus through the placenta, increasing the chances for complications.  

More than half of US women are overweight or obese. Because excess weight puts added pressure on the body’s ability to properly control blood sugar using insulin, many experts agree that there is a connection between the sharp rise in obesity rates and Type 2 diabetes cases in this country.  So it is no coincidence that the same diet is recommended for both maintaining a healthy weight and preventing Type 2 diabetes.

Tips for healthful eating

• Eat more fiber such as oats, beans, and whole grains like brown rice

• Cook with olive or canola oil instead of butter

• Choose low-fat or non-fat dairy products

• Eat more lean meats such as chicken without the skin and fish. 

• Eat more fruits and non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower

• Eat high fat snack foods sparingly.

The Diabetes Prevention Program, a federally funded research study, showed that participants who made lifestyle changes prevented or delayed the onset of Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.  These changes included a balanced diet and 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, five days a week.  As a result participants experienced a 5 to 7 percent weight loss.  So take heart, if you are at high risk for developing diabetes, healthy changes in your lifestyle can make a big difference. 

For more information visit:

American Diabetes Association

www.diabetes.org

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/  

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