Ask a Dietitian

As seen on BCTV November 10/98

Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that affects the body’s ability to use blood sugar or glucose as energy. People with diabetes either can’t produce the hormone insulin or have difficulty responding to it.

Insulin is involved in the breakdown of sugar. Because glucose (or sugar) is needed for the optimal function of all body organs, people who don’t manage their diabetes have a higher risk for heart or kidney problems, nerve damage and even blindness than those who make an effort to manage it.

The Canadian Diabetes Association estimates that over 1.5 million Canadians have diabetes and about 3/4 of a million people likely have it but don’t even know.

There are two types of diabetes:

• Type 1, or insulin-dependant diabetes: It affects about 10% of the population.
• Type 2, non-insulin dependant diabetes: It affects about 90% of the people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in overweight, middle-aged men and women.It is not sugar that causes diabetes, but rather poor overall eating habits, carrying excess weight in the mid-section and inactivity. Some of the early warning signs of diabetes include fatigue, increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, slow healing of cuts, tingling in hands and feet and recurrent skin, gum or bladder infections. If you suspect you may have diabetes, consult your physician. As a minimum, consult your physician on an annual basis.If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and are waiting to see a specialist or attend an education class, consider working on the following:
• begin an exercise program to promote blood sugar control and weight loss
• work towards getting consistent with your eating – that is, eat regular meals and snacks each day and try to keep the volume of food you eat from one day to the next fairly constant
• add fibre to your diet – especially soluble fibre which comes from oatmeal, all fruits and vegetables and whole grains
• reduce your intake of concentrated sweets like candies and pop
• watch your salt intake – to promote blood pressure control
• consult a dietitian in private practice or contact the Diabetes Resource Centre at 732-4636

Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!

Excerpts from The 101 Most Asked Nutrition Questions by Patricia Chuey and reprinted with permission