The Truth About Diabetes

Rapper "Fat Joe" was on the radio this morning, discussing diabetes and how he was able to rid himself of the disease with his newfound healthy lifestyle. Apparently "Fat Joe" is now "Less Fat Joe."

Diabetes is a common discussion thread on The Biggest Loser: Dr. Huizenga will walk into his exam room, approach his patients (the BL contestants) and give them the bad news. They may not realize it, but they now have one more hurdle to overcome: Type 2 diabetes. Likewise, you've probably heard the term on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (a FANTASTIC show that exposes our country's criminally unhealthy school lunch practices); Jamie often encounters teenagers who are diabetic because (a) they don't get enough exercise, (b) they eat unhealthily at home and (c) they eat unhealthily at school, where the meager amount of tomato sauce on a frozen slice of pizza counts as a vegetable.

In most of these cases, the children are following in the footsteps of their parents, who are also diabetic.

Most recently, you've heard the word diabetes in the blogosphere, in the weeks before and the days after Paula Deen revealed to Al Roker that she has Type 2 diabetes. If this (sponsored) televised reveal didn't infuriate you, it should have. Deen was diagnosed three years ago and chose to keep that information private while continuing to promote her fatty, greasy, unhealthy recipes ... the same recipes that are very likely causing obesity and Type 2 diabetes in those Americans who subscribe to her "Southern" cooking.

Deen's "Krispy Kreme Bacon Burger," a.k.a. the direct path to diabetes.

But before we go any further, let's figure out what diabetes is:

• The two major types of diabetes (excluding Gestational Diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy) are Type 1 and Type 2. 
• "Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection—the immune system—turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live. ... Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5 to 10 percent of diagnosed diabetes in the United States. It develops most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age."
• "The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have Type 2. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. ... The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Their onset is not as sudden as in type 1 diabetes. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some people have no symptoms."

And that's the scariest part of it all -- "some people have no symptoms" -- which is why it is IMPERATIVE that, if you are overweight (not obese -- overweight) that you see a doctor immediately and get tested for diabetes. "The fasting blood glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes in children and non-pregnant adults. The test is most reliable when done in the morning."

This is not one of those things you want to wait on until next month ... or until you "lose a few more pounds." This is nothing something you should be scared or embarrassed about. Like any routine testing, you need to be aware of what's going on with your body beneath the surface. And if you have even the slightest suspicion that you could be diabetic, you should make that phone call right now. Here's why:

• "Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In 2006, it was the seventh leading cause of death. However, diabetes is likely to be under-reported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates."
• "Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body." 
• "[Diabetes] often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes."
• "In 2007, diabetes cost the United States $174 billion. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work, and reduced productivity, totaled $58 billion. Direct medical costs for diabetes care, including hospitalizations, medical care, and treatment supplies, totaled $116 billion."

Put it this way -- what is scarier to you: (1) seeing a doctor, getting a diagnosis and learning to treat it, or (2) deciding that you'd rather not know, go blind, lose a kidney, lose a leg and die at an early age?

No, this information is not kind or sugarcoated -- but neither is this disease. We're way past being nice about this stuff. It's time to do something about it.

The good news is that early-stage Type 2 diabetes is potentially reversible, and Type 2 can be managed with a proper diet, exercise and medication. 

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(Source: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)