WellPower: What Paula Deen Wishes She Knew About Diabetes
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Kim Fabian, Director of the Maryland Metabolic Institute
at Saint Agnes Hospital
When celebrity chef Paula Deen discovered she had diabetes, I don’t think anyone was very surprised. For years, she has touted and prepared tempting dishes loaded with fat and sugar. I’ll admit, some of her concoctions look great, but moderation clearly was not part of her recipe.
This is a shame, because as a person whose family has been affected by diabetes, I know how challenging and life-changing it can be to manage—not only for the person who has it, but their loved ones as well. Trust me, you don’t want to have to plan meals for a person with diabetes, and you don’t want to be the person who has to check blood sugar levels with a fingerstick six times or more a day. And you don’t want to be the family that is burdened with the high cost of diabetes medications and supplies.
The great news is, according to our expert dietitians and certified diabetes educators here at Saint Agnes, research shows that making just one healthy lifestyle change can cut your risk of diabetes by a third.
Specifically, the National Institutes of Health found that making any one of these five changes can lower your risk by 30%, and making all of them can lower it by 80%—even with a family history of the disease.
- Lose weight. The heavier you are, the more fatty tissue you have, which makes it harder for your body to use insulin. Maintaining an appropriate weight over the long term can decrease your risk of diabetes by 70%.
- Get physical. Exercise can help promote your weight loss efforts, as well as lower your blood pressure and help insulin respond more effectively. Aim for at least 20 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week, as well as a few days of strength training to maintain muscle and boost metabolism.
- Consume more fiber. Foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts contain lots of fiber, which helps improve or maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Nix the cigarettes. People who smoke double their risk of developing diabetes.
- Limit alcohol intake. Too much can cause inflammation of the pancreas, which can interfere with insulin secretion. One drink per day is recommended for women, two per day for men.
Save yourself or your family from being “surprised” by a diabetes diagnosis.
Take control of your health—make a positive change today,
The well4life Team
well4lifeprogram.com
******
Losing weight, eating right and becoming more active are the best ways to prevent diabetes. If these are three of your goals, the well4life program can help. You’ll benefit from personal coaching, group support, exercise classes, educational sessions, meal planning, screenings, discounts on fitness centers and Medifast, and much more! Visit www.well4lifeprogram.com or register for our March 10 free information session by calling 1-866-690-9355.