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Diabetes Basics
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whether they have noticed any symptoms. People younger than fortyfive should get tested if they display symptoms or if they have any of
the high-risk characteristics that make them more prone to developing
the disease.
In recent years, you may have heard the term pre-diabetes. Prediabetes is used to classify people who are at a severe risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, by making lifestyle changes such as
eating healthier, adding moderate exercise or physical activity to their
daily lives, and losing excess weight, people considered to be prediabetic can slow down or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
If you or a family member are experiencing the following symptoms,
then you should consult a physician and get tested for diabetes as soon
as possible.
Types of Diabetes
There are two major types of diabetes, type 2 and type 1, as well as a
third type called gestational diabetes, which occurs during a small percentage of pregnancies.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting
for up to 95 percent of all cases. Formerly known as noninsulindependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and as adult-onset diabetes,
type 2 diabetes appears most often in middle-aged adults. However,
there has been a disturbing trend in which young adults and adolescents are now developing it.
People develop type 2 diabetes because their pancreas either stops
producing enough insulin to function, or because their body is no
longer able to use the insulin it is producing (known as insulin resistance). Who is most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
People who are overweight or obese
People forty-five years old or older
2 THE DIABETIC GOURMET COOKBOOK
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Treating Diabetes
The overall goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose levels as
close to normal as possible. Keeping blood glucose levels under control
reduces the risk of developing the life-threatening complications mentioned earlier, which is why it is so important to consistently test and
monitor blood glucose levels.
When people with diabetes test their blood, they are actually testing
to see how much sugar (glucose) has built up in their blood. When
insulin is either ineffective or not being produced at all, glucose builds
up in the blood and passes out of the body in the urine without being
used. Even though the blood is loaded with glucose, the glucose doesnt
make it into the cells and the body ends up losing its main source of
energy. Testing blood sugar levels may not be pleasant and it may not
always be convenient, but it is a very effective way to see how the body
is reacting to the food people eat, the lifestyle they live, and the medications or treatments they have been prescribed.
Treatment of type 2 diabetes involves blood glucose level testing, a
personalized meal plan, or diet and exercise. Prescribed oral medications or insulin may also be used to help control blood glucose levels.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes involves multiple daily injections of
insulin, which are balanced with meals and daily activities. It includes
frequent blood glucose level testing and a carefully designed and scheduled diet.
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Diabetes Basics