In spite of extensive campaigns by national health authorities to publicize the dangers of developing diabetes because of being overweight and becoming obese, the number of cases of diabetes diagnosed each year grows at an alarming rate.
It appears that many overweight people do not realize the seriousness of their condition or the diminished quality of life that comes with being diabetic. They do not understand the dangers they will face in addition to diabetes, a disease that is a major risk factor for several forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the disease that causes the death of about 70 percent of adults who have diabetes.
Diabetes and higher than normal blood sugar levels
Diabetes is a disease in which higher than normal blood sugar levels exist in the body, especially after eating a meal, due to an impaired system of the body that would normally enable the circulating blood sugars to be absorbed by cells of the body that need the blood sugars to fuel their metabolic activities.
The most prevalent form of diabetes, called Type-2 diabetes, affecting about 90 percent of the total diabetic population, occurs frequently in people who are overweight or obese and who follow a sedentary lifestyle lacking in regular exercise or physical exertion in their work or play.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease, sometimes called by the broader encompassing term of heart disease, includes a number of diseases of the arteries, blood vessels and blood circulation system. As in diabetes, being overweight or obese and having an inactive lifestyle are major contributing factors that can lead to developing heart disease. High blood cholesterol levels and/or smoking are other primary factors. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and it is reported that more than 70 million Americans have heart disease.
Many heart disease risks are preventable
Many risk factors can be reversed or prevented and while it would be easy to continue to cite the depressing statistics relating to heart disease and diabetes, it is perhaps more encouraging to emphasize that the condition can be prevented by becoming active — for those who can physically do so — and by adopting an appropriate healthy diet.
There is no cure for diabetes
However, like heart disease, diabetes is preventable and also like heart disease, diet and exercise have large roles to play. The prevention of diabetes does not require the adoption of a restricted diet, few foods are off limits but the objective is to choose foods that do not cause a big increase in normal blood sugar levels — and those are usually simple carbohydrate foods such as cakes, pastries, candies, and sugary foods and beverages that the body’s digestive system quickly breaks down to their glucose content. It is also wise to avoid or minimize consumption of foods containing saturated fats. Unfortunately, many “fast foods” are the wrong foods, a hamburger with cheese provides a lot of calories, check it out.
Control weight and weight-gain
Also don’t consume more calories of food than are needed to support a healthy body weight and an active lifestyle including work and play.
In conclusion
Anyone who is overweight, should take warning, unless dietary and lifestyle changes are made, the risk for diabetes and heart disease increases with age. It may be time to consider a medical checkup. A doctor can order a simple blood test that will provide the essential information regarding blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Diabetes and heart diseases are life threatening but their impact can be controlled and minimized – but the earlier the better.