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Diabetes Decreases Life Expectancy - Protect Yourself
Having diabetes decreases life expectancy in persons over age 50 by an average of 7.5 years for men, and 8.2 years for women, compared to persons without the condition, reveals research using data from the Framingham Heart Study, which recruited 5,209 men and women starting in 1948 and has examined them twice yearly for more than 46 years.
Published in the June 11, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (Franco OH, Steyerberg EW, et al.) the data also shows that men with diabetes have 2.4 times the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and 1.7 times the risk of dying from it, compared to men without diabetes. For women with diabetes, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is 2.5 times and risk of dying from it 2.2 times that of their diabetes-free peers.
Add to these frightening statistics the fact that a global diabetes epidemic is underway with an estimated 217 million people with diabetes worldwide (a number that is expected to increase to 300 million by 2025), plus the fact that a fundamental cause of diabetes is the unhealthy "Western" diet, and it becomes obvious that optimal nutrition is essential for diabetes prevention and healthy aging.
Follow a Mediterranean-style Diet
A review study in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (Schroder H) strongly suggests that a Mediterranean-style diet including lots of vegetables, fresh fruits, unrefined grains, beans, cold water fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil as the main source of fat, offers significant protection against both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Not only do numerous population studies consistently show a protective effect of a Mediterranean diet against diabetes, but a number of physiological mechanisms that explain why have now been identified. In brief, the Mediterranean diet is rich in:
Bottomline: Change to a healthy Mediterranean-type diet and dramatically lower your risk of becoming part of the diabetes epidemic.
Lara Pizzorno, MA, LMT
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: diabetes, diet, Mediterranean diet, health and wellness
Published in the June 11, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (Franco OH, Steyerberg EW, et al.) the data also shows that men with diabetes have 2.4 times the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and 1.7 times the risk of dying from it, compared to men without diabetes. For women with diabetes, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is 2.5 times and risk of dying from it 2.2 times that of their diabetes-free peers.
Add to these frightening statistics the fact that a global diabetes epidemic is underway with an estimated 217 million people with diabetes worldwide (a number that is expected to increase to 300 million by 2025), plus the fact that a fundamental cause of diabetes is the unhealthy "Western" diet, and it becomes obvious that optimal nutrition is essential for diabetes prevention and healthy aging.
Follow a Mediterranean-style Diet
A review study in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (Schroder H) strongly suggests that a Mediterranean-style diet including lots of vegetables, fresh fruits, unrefined grains, beans, cold water fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil as the main source of fat, offers significant protection against both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Not only do numerous population studies consistently show a protective effect of a Mediterranean diet against diabetes, but a number of physiological mechanisms that explain why have now been identified. In brief, the Mediterranean diet is rich in:
- Appetite-satisfying fiber, which slows the rate at which foods are digested and glucose is delivered into the bloodstream. When fiber is present in a meal, the small intestine secretes peptides, such as cholecystokinin, that signal fullness to the brain. Legumes and nuts, two fiber-rich staples in the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to greatly increase cholechystokinin secretion.
- Healthy fats from olive oil, cold water fish, nuts and seeds. Some evidence suggests that oleic acid, the predominant fatty acid in olive oil, is associated with lower insulin resistance. Olive oil has also been shown to increase the rate at which fat is oxidized (burned) after meals in women with abdominal obesity. The omega-3-fatty acids supplied by cold water fish, walnuts and flaxseed render cell membranes more flexible and receptive to insulin signaling.
- Protective antioxidants and phytonutrients. In addition to vitamin antioxidants such as beta-carotene, E and C, the characteristic foods of the Mediterranean diet provide a wide variety of phytonutrients with potent, synergistic antioxidant activity. Free radical damage (oxidative stress) plays a crucial role in the development of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. (Beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin.) Even short-term administration of virgin olive oil has been found to decrease several markers of oxidative stress.
- Magnesium, liberally supplied by vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, is an essential co-factor in enzymes required for cellular energy production. Studies have linked insufficient magnesium with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes.
- Moderate red-wine consumption. In the Mediterranean, a glass of red wine often accompanies lunch or dinner. In human population studies, moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity and increase levels of adiponectin, a signaling molecule that stimulates cells' burning of both fatty acids and glucose (sugar).
- And because, a Mediterranean diet is filled with nutrient-dense foods, which supply fewer calories overall, this delicious way of eating automatically promotes a healthy weight, again lessening your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Bottomline: Change to a healthy Mediterranean-type diet and dramatically lower your risk of becoming part of the diabetes epidemic.
Lara Pizzorno, MA, LMT
- Franco OH, Steyerberg EW, Hu FB, Mackenbach J, Nusselder W. Associations of diabetes mellitus with total life expectancy and life expectancy with and without cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med. 2007 Jun 11;167(11):1145-51. PMID: 17563022
- Schroder H. Protective mechanisms of the Mediterranean diet in obesity and type 2 diabetes. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 Mar;18(3):149-60. Epub 2006 Sep 11. PMID: 16963247
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: diabetes, diet, Mediterranean diet, health and wellness
15 Comments:
My question is , can a diabetic safely take a product like "Hydroxy Cut"? This product and other over the counter products like it are designed for weight loss.
Excellent article. I think a pure plant based diet would be best, but this program would be a great improvement from the typical American diet. Dean Ornish and John McDougall M.D. are good resources.
For the person who mentioned Hydroxycut. I have noticed that on the directions on that weight loss product, that it says it is not intended for diabetics, however that was the one with ephedra. Hydroxycut makes an ephedra free product, but i would still ask your doctor. My brother is a diabetic and was able to safely lose about 60 pounds with the help of hydroxycut. I lost 40 pounds with the product.
I work in the medical field and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 6 years ago. I take two pills a day, but have had problems with controlling the sugar level at times. Juicing has worked for me. I have a 16oz cup of fresh juiced carrot-apple-celery juice every morning, that is my breakfast, with a slice of toast. And I juice in the evening and have a 12oz cup of another fruit-veggie drink mix.
I have lost significant weight, and I have such energy. TO me, its the best way to get in your daily amount of veggies and fruits.
I eat alot of beans, turkey and very lean chicken, and rice twice a week. I will eat as much veggies as i can stand, it is a good way to make yourself feel full.
The hydroxycut question is difficult to answer as there is simply not enough research. An animal study did show that it affects blood sugar leves so that would add another fractor to consider when trying to maintain blood sugar level control.
Diabetics need to be be very careful with juicing. Carrot juice has a lot of sugar that is readily absorbed, as does fruit juice. While low carbohydrate juices are porobably quite beneficial, those with high carbohydrate will make blood sugar regulation more difficult.
My sister is a diabetic 1 and is presently experiencing and infection that will not heal. The infection does not accept the antibotic, she has had three different ones and they all work for a while then stop; It is not stopping the infection. I fear for my sister's life. What is out there that can her, I dont know.
my question is. What is the life expectancy of a 22 yr old person with type 1 diabities that has gone untreated?
anonymous above,
Please visit our Diabetes center for more information about Type I diabetes.
I am a 21 year old female with Type 1 diabeties. I was only diagnosed three years ago, but am now forced to wear a insulin pump due to the severity of my blood sugar fluctuations. I have only been on the pump for five months and have gained thirty pounds. I am interested in diets and have tried deveral avenues of workout rejemints and diets. I am very interseted in Hydroxycut, mainly the caffeine free product. I am interseted in the possible side affects of this product for people with a severe case of Type 1 diabeties.
I am 21 years old an i am type 2 diabetic. For the past 2 years i would excercise heavily but as each year goes by i would gain a little more weight. I finally decided to properly change my diet, but i am very interested in taking Hydroxycut. The only thing is my body is very sensitve to certain "chemicals" but i really want to use the hydroxy cut and burn off this excess fat.
i'm 25 and have type 2 diabetes... i was taking pills, 2 kinds of pill, one of them are 2 times a day and the another is once a day. Well the problem is that the pills are really lowing my glucose/blood sugar... and you know what that means, i have to eat again or eat/drink something with sugar! well, i'v stop taking the pills and i'm doing really good. my gulcose level are not higher that 140 the lowest is 89, i'd just signed up for the gym too and everything seem to be fine really good... so like i sayed i'v stop taking the pills and eating less and going to the gym and everything is good..
i have a 10 year old son with type1 diabetes. i have recently started changing his diet and added flaxeed oil to his diet. his sugars have been lower than before i am wondering if the flaxeed oil might be lowering his BS or speeding up the insulin to work in his body faster?
thanks
My brother is 48 years old and is diabetic from major surgery on his pancreas when he was in his thirties. He injects insulin twice a day and has since the operation. What is his life epectancy since the diabetes was a result of the operation? I do not know if he has cardiovascular disease but I think I will talk to him about having a coronary scan. Our father died at age 52 from a heart attack. Please let me know my brother's life expectancy from a result from an operation. Thank you.
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Juicing is a very good way to get your veggies in and for diabetics should be the only source of sugar you take in. Dr. Pizzomo says diabetics need to be careful because of the amount of sugar in carrots but it's way better than processed sugar (not to mention it fights off all sorts of disease.) If you monitor your sugar levels, you'll see how much more in control your levels are with natural juicing. STAY AWAY from "sugar free" and "diet" products. It's a farce and can cause much more damage than you know. Freshly juiced carrots, celery, apples, etc are the way to go!!!
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