American Diabetes Month
November is American Diabetes Month. Statistics are high. But why does it keep going up? I have a few theories.
One reason is because blood sugar has to be at 100 mg /dl blood glucose or over (diabetes is 125 mg/dl) before it is even paid attention to. As I check lab work with my clients I see these scores at 100 mg/dl and over. Yet a client’s doctor may not say this is an issue. So always ask and be vigilant of your numbers yourself. Doctors are busy so be a responsible patient and learn what your numbers really mean.
Another issue occurs because hypoglycemia, which frequently is a precursor to pre-diabetes, is not taken seriously enough. Hypoglycemia is much more challenging to detect by simple blood tests. Blood work reveals blood glucose at 50mg/dl to determine low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) but because there is so much variation with hypoglycemia it’s simply missed. Doctors are usually more alert to diabetes sometimes neglecting this serious condition which can lead to diabetes, even though it may take numerous years to develop.
Here is a good quiz to take to see if you think you might be experiencing hypoglycemia: http://www.hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp. If you score high it would be to your advantage to discuss this and any of the symptoms with your doctor. Catching blood sugar imbalances is a good way to nip diabetes in the bud real early on.
Be sure and check Monica's blog regarding common myths around diabetes as well.
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Posted by: Susan in Asheville | Apr 20, 2009 7:38:09 PM
I feel fortunate to have a MD that is on top of things. I am 55 yrs old and one year into menopause. My triglycerides are 39, BP 117/72 and cholesterol is 163...BUT my fasting glucose was 102. My dr suggested I work at getting to a better weight (I am 5'4" and 135) and suggested losing 10-15 pounds. I already exercise, just eat too much. He said two things coorelate to pre-diabetes such as this: exercise-obesity. I praise him for being on top of this!
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Nov 11, 2008 8:30:34 PM
Hi Dr.Parker, I don't think we really need clinical studies to verify the link between diabetes and obesity!And yes lack of activity certainly plays into the cause. Check tomorrow's blog for other things that may be related.
Posted by: Steve Parker, M.D. | Nov 11, 2008 6:38:37 PM
I bet you would agree, Elaine, that the incidence of type 2 diabetes has been rising in the U.S. in concert with rates of overweight and obesity. That doesn't prove causation but . . .I think the two are strongly related.
Low levels of physical activity are also a risk factor for development of type 2 diabetes. As a population are we less active than we were 30 years ago?
-Steve Parker, M.D.
http://AdvancedMediterraneanDiet.com/blog/
