Healthwise [Fall 1994]

              Keeping diabetes under
If you eat a lot of sugar, you
will develop diabetes - TRUE or
FALSE?
False, according to diabetic
educators at The Moses H. Cone
Memorial Hospital.
However, if you eat a lot of
sugar and fat, you may gain weight
and then develop diabetes.
Although researchers have linked
obesity to diabetes, the cause of the
disease remains a mystery. Researchers
are, however, certain of its consequences. Diabetes remains a leading
cause of death by disease, affecting
one in 20 Americans.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that many
people can control the disease
through exercise, a healthy diet and
medication.
While there is no cure for diabetes,
there is a treatment program which
helps diabetics keep their blood sugar
at a healthy level. "When you have
diabetes, you have to work to do what
your body used to do automatically,"
explained Margo Compton, Diabetic
Educator, Moses Cone Hospital.
According to Compton, there are
several necessary tools to control diabetes:
control	
Education: This is the first
step in controlling the disease or giving
support to family members or friends.
Classes, books, support groups and
health-care professionals can help you
learn what you need to know. Such
information includes knowing how to
recognize and treat low blood sugar, a
common problem for diabetics. When
medications, food and exercise get out
of balance, your blood sugar will drop.
Low blood sugar can make you feel
shaky, tired, confused and irritable.
Eating something high in sugar such
as a handful of raisins, one tablespoon
of honey or sugar or a nondiet soda
brings the level up quickly. An unhealthy
sugar level that remains out of control
increases your chance of developing
other serious health problems including
heart attack, stroke, foot or leg
amputation, eye problems that can
lead to blindness and kidney disease.
Diet: There's more to a healthy
diet than eating healthy foods. It's
also important to eat the right
amount of food at the right times.
Your physician or dietitian can help
you create a food plan that's right for
you. For example, if you have high
blood pressure, you'll need a food
m
excessive thirst
frequent urination
fatigue
sudden weight loss
increased appetite
blurred vision
family history
plan that includes foods low in salt.
You will also learn about eating less
sugar and fat and more fiber. But for
diabetics, timing of meals and snacks
is everything. However, plans change
and you won't always eat at the same
time. You'll need to learn what to do
if you have to delay a meal.
Exercise: Next to a healthy
diet, a fitness program is the most
important part of a diabetic's
treatment
plan.
Through
regular
exercise, you
can manage your
'insia
Don't take
aching
nwiFJTTN
down
Memory
loss not a
normal
part of
aging
Calcium
isn't just
4orkids
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\ Publication for the Friends of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital