Like high blood pressure, you can develop type 2 diabetes and not be aware of it. The sooner you know if you have diabetes, the sooner you can take steps to control it and prevent complications, so it's important that everyone know what to watch out for.
Yesterday, we talked about the fact that being overweight or obese dramatically increases your risk of diabetes. It is such an important factor, that just reducing your weight by 7 - 10%, if you are overweight, can enable you to avoid developing diabetes.
It's also important how - or rather - where you store your fat. If you tend to have a big waist and abdomen, rather than big hips and thighs, your risk of developing diabetes is higher. Lose the ab fat and watch your risk go down. In women, a waist circumference greater than 35", and in men, greater than 40", increases your health risks.
Other signs and symptoms that may indicate insulin resistance or diabetes include:
- Frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate
- Unquenchable thirst
- Unexplained, unusual fatigue or weakness
- Tingling or numbness of fingers, hands or feet
- Blurred vision
- Dry, itchy skin
- Bruising or cuts that are slow to go away
The food group most closely associated with diabetes is carbohydrates. Carbs are either loved or loathed by people who want to reach a healthy weight, and it's a complicated food group to decipher. And that's what next week's posts will be about --- all about the world of carbohydrates!
Marg, I am diabetic and over the last few years I have been able to manage the carbs. It's the exercise part that I have the hardest time with. I have come to realize 1 mile a day is not enough to make a weight change. This weather is not "user friendly" to me. I can't wait for cooler weather. Thanks for all your information and encouragement!
ReplyDeleteDeb, I congratulate you on being able to change the way you choose foods - especially the carbs we think of as comfort food growing up!
ReplyDeleteYou know, you are right,,,,one mile a day will not make a weight difference in most people because it really represents a short amount of time for calorie burning and most of us don't "power walk" enough to work up a sweat. That's one reason I have been focusing so much on food in this blog.
But exercise and wlaking is really important for many reasons, and being a part of yoru weight management plan is one of the reasons.
To be honest... for weight loss, the experts recommend about 60 minutes of mostly aerobic activity "most days of the week." That might be accomplished indoors with a good work-out dvd and air conditioning! LOL - I am sorry about the weather - you are so right - it has made outdoor exercise really tough!