“People  with high blood pressure, diabetes – those are conditions brought about by life  style. If you change the life style, those conditions will  leave.”

Dick  Gregory (born October 12, 1932, is an American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer)

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a complex chronic disease involving disorders in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism and the development of macro-vascular, micro-vascular, neurological complications that don’t occur over a few nights or weeks or months.  It is a metabolic disorder in where the pancreas organ ends up causing many disruptions in proper working of our body.  The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland.  The problem with diabetes is due to the endocrine part of the pancreas not working properly.  More than 1 million islet cells are located throughout the organ.  The three types of endocrine cells that the pancreas excretes into our blood stream are alpha, beta, and delta cells.

The alpha cells secrete glucagon (stored glucose), beta secrete insulin, and delta secrete gastrin and pancreatic somatostatin.   A person with DM has minimal or no beta cells secreted from the pancreas, which shows minimal or no insulin excreted in the person’s bloodstream.  Insulin is necessary for the transport of glucose, amino acids, potassium, and phosphate across the cell membrane getting these chemical elements into the cell.  When getting these elements into the cells it is like the cell eating a meal and the glucose, being one of the ingredients in the meal, is used for energy=fuel to our body; the glucose inside the cells gets carried to all our tissues in the body to allow the glucose to be utilized into all our tissues so they can do their functions (Ex. Getting glucose into the muscle tissue allows the muscles to have the energy to do the range of motion in letting us do our daily activities of living, like as simple as type or walk).  The problem with diabetes is the glucose doesn’t have the insulin being sent into the bloodstream by the pancreas to transfer the glucose across the cell membrane to be distributed as just discussed.  Instead what results is a high glucose levels in the blood stream causing hyperglycemia.

It should be apparent that when there is a deficit of insulin, as in DM, hyperglycemia with increased fat metabolism and decreased protein synthesis occur ( Our body being exposed to this type of environment over  years causes the development of many chronic conditions that would not have occurred if DM never took place in the body, all due to high glucose levels starting with not being properly displaced in the body as it should be normally.).

People with normal metabolism upon awaking and before breakfast are able to maintain blood glucose levels in the AM ranging from 60 to 110mg/dl.  After eating food the non-diabetic’s blood glucose may rise to 120-140 mg/dl after eating (postprandial), but these then rapidly return back to normal.  The reason for this happening is you eat food, it reaches the stomach, digestion takes place during digestion the stomach brakes down fats, carbohydrates, and sugars from compound sugars to simple sugars (fructose and glucose).  Than the sugars transfer from the stomach into the bloodstream causing an increase in sugar levels.  Now, your body uses the sugar it needs at that time throughout the entire body for energy and if still extra sugar left in the bloodstream that isn’t needed at that time to be utilized it now needs to go somewhere out of the bloodstream to allow the glucose blood level to get back between 60-110mg/dl.  That extra glucose first gets stored up in the liver 60-80% and then gets stored in our fat tissue=fat storage=weight increase.  Unfortunately this doesn’t take place with a diabetic since there is very little or no insulin being released by the pancreas and over time due to the high blood glucose blood levels (called hyperglycemia) problems arise in the body over years.   When diabetes occurs there is a resolution and you have the disease the rest of your life.  You need to control your glucose level.    2 TYPES OF DM: a.)Diabetes I  & b.) Diabetes ll.

We have risk factors that can cause disease/illness; there are unmodified and modified risk factors. With unmodified risk factors we have no control in them, which are 4 and these are: Heredity, Sex, Age, Race.  Now modified risk factors are factors we can control, 3 of them that you can control is your weight, diet and health habits (which play a big role in why many people get diabetes II).  Look at what the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com /health/diabetes)says about risk factors:

RISK FACTOR FOR TYPE  DIABETES ONE:

Although the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, genetic factors can play a role. Your risk of developing type 1 diabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling who has type 1 diabetes. Based on research, we also know that genes account for less than half the risk of developing type1 disease. These findings suggest that there are other factors besides genes that influence the development of diabetes. We don’t know what these factors are, but a number of different theories exist.  Environmental factors, such as exposure to a viral illness, also likely play some role in type 1 diabetes. Other factors that may increase your risk include:

The presence of damaging immune system cells that make autoantibodies. Sometimes family members of people with type 1 diabetes are tested for the presence of diabetes autoantibodies. If you have these autoantibodies, you have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. But, not everyone who has these autoantibodies develops type 1.

Dietary factors. A number of dietary factors have been linked to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes, such as low vitamin D consumption; early exposure to cow’s milk or cow’s milk formula; or exposure to cereals before 4 months of age. However, none of these factors has been shown to cause 1 diabetes is more common in whites than in other races.

Race can take a role in being a factor for diabetes 1. 

Geography. Certain countries, such as Finland and Sweden, have higher rates of type 1 diabetes.

RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES TYPE 2 AND PREDIABETES
Researchers don’t fully understand why some people develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and others don’t. It’s clear that certain factors increase the risk, however, including:

Weight. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.

Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin. Exercising less than three times a week may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Family history. Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.

Race. Although it’s unclear why, people of certain races — including blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asians — are at higher risk.

Age. Your risk increases as you get older. This may be because you tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as you age. But type 2 diabetes is also increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.

Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes later increases. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms), you’re also at risk of type 2 diabetes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome. For women, having polycystic ovary syndrome — a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity — increases the risk of diabetes.

High blood pressure. Having blood pressure over 140/90mm Hg is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Abnormal cholesterol levels. If you have low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol, your risk of type 2 diabetes is higher. Low levels of HDL are defined as below 35 mg/dL.

High levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a fat carried in the blood. If your triglyceride levels are above 250 mg/dL, your risk of diabetes increases.

RISK FACTORS FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, but some women are at greater risk than are others. Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

Age. Women older than age 25 are at increased risk.

Family or personal history. Your risk increases if you have prediabetes — a precursor to type 2 diabetes — or if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has type 2 diabetes. You’re also at greater risk if you had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, if you delivered a very large baby or if you had an unexplained stillbirth.

Weight. Being overweight before pregnancy increases your risk.

Race. For reasons that aren’t clear, women who are black, Hispanic, American Indian or Asian are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

The key in not getting diabetes is taking Prevention Measures (especially regarding type II) but even diagnosed with diabetes there are measures you can take in helping to control the glucose and decreasing the chances of increasing the side effects of what it can cause to the human body organs overtime especially cardiac disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy to blind from having hyperglycemia frequently over years; in time it thickens the blood making circulation difficulty effecting tissues furthest from the heart= feet/lower extremities where skin ulcers occur for not getting enough oxygen to the tissues in the feet or lower extremities that can lead to necrosis causing amputation of toes to foot to below knee amputation to even above knee amputation.  It also increases chance of heart attack and stroke.  PREVENTION first and CONTROL second when diagnosed with DM, is so vitally important.

So help control your diabetes through diet (eating a low glucose or sugar diet=1800 to 2000 calories a day as your m.d. prescribes for you), weight (get in therapeutic weight range), and practice healthy habits.   My blog can help those in wanting to prevent diabetes by helping you lose weight by eating 6 low glycemic meals a day which allows low fat, low carbohydrates, low sugar keeping your baseline glucose at a steady level and low sugar level more on a regular basis with still treating yourself to occasional high glycemic meals when you’re in ideal weight.  Follow this plan and in the first week eating like this I lost 5lbs or more and in the second week another 5lbs and since 1 to 2 lbs. per week .   If you don’t, you put your diet 3 days back.   To learn more about healthy habits in your life with diet, some exercise, and how to reach your ideal weight like I am doing come to my website healthyusa.tsfl.com .  This would definitely benefit you in prevention but if diagnosed with diabetes always check with your doctor regarding diet, activity, and new health habits you may start, especially through this program and make the alterations you need to do as your m.d. recommends.  Recommended is have your m.d. give you clearance to start this program if diagnosed with DM.  I lost 22lbs already and I’m not obese by the body mass index.  Join me and go to healthyusa.tsfl.com.  No charge, no fee, no gimmick, no donations and no hacker.  It’s just obtaining information about how to live your life healthier, even your family or friends (if interested) get involved in being healthier with possibly spreading this great news to make a healthier USA for ALL age groups.  Thank you for your time and I hope I have spread some light on someone.  When I made this a routine in my life it got so EASY since I put health before my taste buds desires.  It took time for not cheating with the food but it worked.

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

 
Gail Devers (born November 19, 1966) is a retired three-time Olympic champion in track and field for the US Olympic Team.

Let’s just start with looking at our health problems recently & the statistics.  According to the Mayo Clinic, in 2011 the top male and female problems vary a little.  The health problems that are similar to them are the ones we need to be more concerned about since the ones I will be presenting to you are brought on to many Americans cause of poor health habits (which includes diet with activity).

They state that cardiac disease is #1 killer for both men and women.  The American Heart Association in 2011  stated  that cardiac disease, which does cause many heart attacks and strokes, with killing more people than all forms of cancer combined.  Two major factors that would decrease the amount in cardiac disease is people stop smoking and eating HEALTHIER=low fat, low sodium and occasional fast foods, if ever in your diet.   Fast foods frequently eaten just doesn’t cut healthy.  Another helpful key is routine exercise.

Lung cancer was the cancer that caused most deaths in both men and women.  Women are also greatly affected with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, according to the Mayo clinic 2011.  To help in decreasing the chance of cancer eat HEALTHY, wear sunscreen, don’t smoke, and get regular cancer screenings.

COPD=Respiratory Diseases classified as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  includes  Emphysema and Bronchitis.  The National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute in 2011 recommended quit smoking to prevent COPD (esp. Emphysema which is the largest RISK factor in getting it).  When you smoke you expand the lung tissue and keep expanding it as you continue smoking.  It doesn’t reverse and after years you have difficulty exchanging oxygen (when inhaled) with carbon dioxide (when exhaled) at the lung base & this is because of stretching the lung tissue (called alveoli) so bad.  The answer is either QUIT or NEVER smoke and band smoking.  The U.S. lung cancer census would go down markedly in a 5-10 years.

Diabetes II is a diabetes that you are not born with but can get later in life.  It is also a leading killer for both men and women in the U.S.  A lot of cases seem to be due to unhealthy eating that goes into obesity that causes the individual to end up with diabetes.  This disease causes damage to many organs of the body in time.  Due to the high glucose levels (hyperglycemia) it damages the kidney causing for many to be put on hemodialysis 3x/week usually, giving heart disease, neuropathy (down the legs usually), and retinopathy=blindness, in time for many.  To prevent this disease losing weight (with staying in a normal body mass index), doing routine exercise, and eating healthy will help a great deal, especially started young.

*In 2011 Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth leading cause of death in women and the tenth in men.  We really don’t know what the etiology is but there may be a link between this disease and heart disease, including head injuries.  What could help prevent this?  One is eating healthy, two is routine exercise-as simple as walking regularly daily or 2 to 3 times a week and eating healthy to prevent cardiac disease. Also, drive safely with the seat belt on, no texting,  no cell phone to prevent a MVA & hitting your head.

Kidney disease in 2011 the ninth leading cause of death for both males and females in the U.S.  It can be caused by high blood pressure or diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Diabetes Association stressed the importance of keeping your blood sugar under control if you are a diabetic in order to prevent kidney disease if done soon enough.   To prevent this disease is the same as cardiac and diabetes prevention (listed above) but the sooner started the better.   This ends part 1. On the next post, I will provide information on what Americans can do in decreasing these diseases in time.

After seeing the disease census 2011 in our country; now the next question would be is there anyway we can decrease diseases in our country overtime, like in a decade or less.  Well, all the diseases I covered yesterday are impacted on what healthy habits you practice over a long period of time in your life;  than these diseases can be controlled better.  Wouldn’t you want to see less disease and more people young and old healthier.  I know I sure would after being a RN over a quarter of a century seeing so many diseases and ones that could have been prevented by a society more health oriented than based on their food cravings.  We have all heard we need to make sacrifices for certain things in life.  Would you think sacrificing fast foods being eaten daily or low glycemic meals in large sizes for all your meals over numerous years that prones you to putting weight on putting you at risk for disease is worth sacrificing?   I finally do in my 40’s and it’s not that hard of a sacrifice since it allowed me to remove all toxins from my body from unhealthy fast foods with looking and feeling better.   I ate like that and it took me about 6mths to finally get the routine down of eating 6 small low glycemic meals a day with having occasional high glycemic foods (Ex. fast foods to ice cream and more) with doing routine exercise 2-3x a week and practicing these healthy habits based on Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson’s book “Dr. A.’s Habits of Health” on a regular basis not just 2wks or 2mths or when I exercise but for life which so far has allowed me to lose 20 lbs.  I hope to lose 20 more to make my goal to 138lbs at 5’7”.  If the majority of America lived healthier like this there would be less disease in our country which would put a positive impact on our health care system for all but it would take a decade but we need to start somewhere and today is the best day to start for both us as well as future generations to come.  Eating healthier, losing weight down to the ideal body mass index ratio based on your height, exercise routinely (not necessarily meaning an aerobic work out), and practicing healthy habits  would increase your chance of living longer healthy and put your life on a journey .  Join me and become healthier with spreading the healthyusa.tsfl.com news to make America a healthier country and most importantly yourself.  It’s like how we were taught by mom and dad at a young age the better you take care of your car the longer it will last.  If taught young and even now at an older age the better we treat ourselves regarding health the higher the odds we will live a longer and more prosperous life, not necessarily as long as Mr. Spock.  There is not just one food to eat or one type of exercise to do or one healthy habit to keep you healthy, there’s choices.  Click onto my website which is no fee, no charge, no hacking, just letting you check us out to look further in understanding how Dr. Anderson with myself as your health coach could change your health for the better.  It allows you to make all the decisions in what you want to do regarding exercise, in what to eat, and what healthy habits you want to practice.  We just provide the information and food if you decide you want it.

There is not just one food to eat or one type of exercise to do or one healthy habit to keep you healthy, there’s choices.  Click onto my website which is no fee, no charge, no hacking, just letting you check us out to look further in understanding how Dr. Anderson with myself as your health coach could change your health for the better. It allows you to make all the decisions in what you want to do regarding exercise, in what to eat, and what healthy habits you want to practice.  We just provide the information and food if you decide you want it.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Thank you for reading my article and listening how we can make a better and healthier USA.