Diabetes

Melissa BessNutrition and Health Education

Specialist

FNEP STAFF TRAINING ONLY, DO NOT USE WITH FNEP PARTICIPANTS

07/2007

Overview

• Statistics• What is diabetes?• Blood glucose • Types of diabetes• Diabetes pyramid/nutrition• Relation to other chronic diseases• Prevention• Are you at risk?• Myths about diabetes

Statistics

• 20.8 million children and adults• 7% of the population• 14.6 million = diagnosed• 6.2 million = unaware• About equal in men and women• 2 to 4 times higher in non-Hispanic

blacks, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific than non-Hispanic whites

• 5th deadliest disease in U.S., no cure

What is diabetes?

• Carbs digested into glucose• Glucose = energy for cells• Insulin (hormone) “unlocks” cells

for glucose• In diabetes:

– Not enough insulin– Insulin doesn’t work properly

• Exact cause is mystery but genetics and environment plays a role

When things work correctly

Glucose enters the cell

What goes wrong in diabetes

(Slide depicts insulin resistance – Body can’t use insulin)

Blood glucose

• Hypoglycemia– Low blood glucose

• Hyperglycemia– High blood glucose

• Fasting blood glucose– Healthy = under 100– Pre-diabetes = 100-125– Diabetes – 125 or higher

Types of diabetes

• Type I – Body does NOT produce insulin– 5-10% of Americans– Used to be called “juvenile-onset”

• Type II– Insulin resistance – body doesn’t use

insulin properly– May be combined with insulin deficiency– Larger percentage of people– Used to be called “adult-onset”

Types of diabetes

• Gestational diabetes– 4% of pregnant women in the U.S. each

year– Usually goes away after pregnancy

• Pre-diabetes– Higher blood glucose levels than

normal, but not high enough for diagnosis

– 54 million Americans– Proper steps can delay or prevent

diabetes

Symptoms of developing diabetes

• Extreme thirst• Frequent urination• Unexplained weight loss

• Contact a doctor if you exhibit these symptoms

Diabetes pyramid/nutrition

Source: American Diabetes Association

Diabetes pyramid/nutrition

• Carbs• What food groups are higher in

carbs?• Differences from Mypyramid• Serving sizes• Heart-healthy eating• Fiber, vitamins, minerals, etc.

Chronic diseases

• Those with diabetes:– 2x higher risk for heart disease– 4x higher risk for stroke

• Other complications:– Foot problems– Eye problems– Kidney problems– Teeth/gum problems

• People with diabetes must take care of themselves!

Prevention of diabetes

• Healthy eating• Exercise

– Exercise helps cell uptake glucose more effectively

• Lose extra weight• Monitor blood glucose

Are you at risk?

• Let’s take the quiz

Myths about diabetes

• Eating too much sugar causes diabetes• You should never eat carbs if you have

diabetes• If you have pre-diabetes, there is nothing

you can do to prevent Type II diabetes• You can catch diabetes from someone

else• Sugar raises blood glucose/blood sugar

more than other carbs do• Herbs and natural supplements can help

prevent or treat diabetes

For more info

• American Diabetes Association– www.diabetes.org

• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse– http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/