Kinda sort of diabetes PSA

I haven’t got my new running shoes delivered yet, so the Brooks Adrenaline’s are enjoying a few last jaunts around the bridle path and Central Park roads.

7.6 miles in shorts at sunrise with a happy hamstring = happy Kelly. It’s going to be a busy day but I’ve got a runner’s high so it’s all good.

On diabetes
I mentioned in my last post that we’re studying anything and everything diabetes this week – it’s an interesting condition biochemically, but even more so because of its growing prevalence in this country. I’m talking mostly about type 2 diabetes – the kind that people develop later in life (although younger people are getting it now too!) because of obesity, improper diet/exercise and heredity.

The Earth Mother slice from Two Boots. Healthy and still delicious.

In the hospital, we’ll see patients with diabetes all day long whether we like it or not, so it’s kind of important to understand how to treat it nutritionally. But what gets me about this one is that it’s extremely possible to prevent. So why aren’t people taking the steps they need to prevent it??

Well, for the same reasons obesity is a legit epidemic and not slowing down any time soon – education, motivation, socioeconomics, family history, etc. It worries me that this stuff is starting to be considered “the norm”and may even be on its way to being more acceptable.

I know most of you reading this are younger and runners, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about this stuff. Especially since most of us have parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And chances are if one of them doesn’t already have type 2 diabetes, they will at some point soon.

Who is at risk for type 2 diabetes? People who:

• Are overweight (BMI of >25) or obese (BMI of >30)
• Have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• Have high blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels
• Are physically inactive
• Have a history of heart disease
• Have had impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on a recent test at their doctor’s
• Eat a diet high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar (think processed foods and fast food)

Because I’m so involved in nutrition and health, it frustrates me that people don’t recognize the problems they may be setting themselves up to have, and sometimes I assume they just don’t care. But as an RD in training, it’s important to understand there’s a lot more to it than that, which is why it’s such a huge issue.

What can be done about all of this? If I had the answer, I would definitely be living a few blocks closer to Central Park (and have laundry in my building, a giant kitchen, an endless supply of running shoes…etc.). But one thing I think we can all do is talk to our loved ones that may be at risk. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but when it comes down to it we want them around for as long as possible, right?

Greek yogurt, fruit, walnuts (diabetes-friendly!)

I have a lot to learn about nutrition counseling and what actually gets people to change, but hearing how much your family cares about you has got to have some affect.

And as much as I love you all, I don’t want to be adjusting insulin, treating low/high blood sugar and teaching your relatives (or you!) about carbohydrate counting any time soon.

Aaaand that’s my PSA for the week.

Question: Tell me, how has diabetes affected you or your family? I want to know!