One startling statistic that I found interesting is that 5.7 million people, or nearly one quarter, within the United States are oblivious to the fact that they have diabetes (American Diabetes Association).
Another statistic that shows that diabetes is starting to grow faster than AIDS is “There are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5% from 2005-2007. Only 24% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 30% in 2005 and from 50% ten years ago” (American Diabetes Association). With a stat like this, it shows me that diabetes is on the raise in a staggering rate, but that physicians are noticing the warning sign earlier, and having their patients tested. However, this stat also shows that physicians are not informing their patients how to prevent diabetes in the first place (eating right, exercise, and ECT.).
Resistin is a small protein secreted by the immune cells monocytes and macrophages (Rossetti). Studies of resistin have shown that resistin delivery to the hypothalamus in mice stimulated changes in the circulating levels of hormones that help regulate glucose production, in a manner independent of glucose production itself (Rossetti).
This is a very important discovery for fighting and preventing Type 2 diabetes. With this knowledge, physicians can (should) inform their patients that obesity could (must likely) cause Type 2 diabetes. With a proper diet and regular exercise, a person would not accumulate fat cells that would trigger that hypothalamus to produce resistin.
Part 2
For this part of the paper, I am going to take the stance of Savannah, to start with. The Atkins Diet, to me, would be the best option for Morgan in the beginning; but over time, weaning off the Atkins diet, and slowly changing to a diet high-fiber and low in refined sugars and saturated fats.
The American Heart Association says, “The secret lies in monitoring your carbohydrate intake. The more carbohydrates you take in, the more your blood glucose goes up” (American Heart Association). This statement from the American Heart Association should validate the Atkins Diet.
However, the American Heart Association states that it, “Does not recommend high-protein diets for weight loss. Some of these diets restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and do not provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. People who stay on these diets very long may not get enough vitamins and minerals and face other potential health risks” (American Heart Association). While an article from the Health Day Reporter written Amanda Gardner supports the American Heart Association stance on this by stating that, “High-fat, high-protein and low-carbohydrate Atkins diet may put practitioners at risk for heart disease in as little as one month” (Gardner).
However, the Atkins Diet website states that, “Atkins is a diet rooted in the science of eating fewer refined carbohydrates and refined sugars – what we refer to as bad carbs” (Atkins).
With a diet high in protein and fats, Morgan, in time, would have to watch out for cardiovascular disease. Her body would be producing more triglycerides from the fat intake with the Atkins Diet. Triglycerides in plasma are derived from fats eaten in foods, or made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates (American Heart Association). Carbohydrates and triglycerides combine to plasma lipids. Plasma lipids can clot within blood vessels. If clotting does occur, it will lead to a heart attack; the severity of the attack would be based on where the clot happened.
One thing that Morgan would definitely have to watch out for is (diabetic) ketoacidosis. The reason being is that when Morgan’s body will start releasing hormones to start breaking down fats for energy. In turn, this process produces toxic acids known as ketones (Mayo Clinic). Ketones are acids that build up in the blood, and it can poison a person. If Morgan does not notice the warning signs (thirst, frequent urination, high blood glucose levels, constantly feeling tired, dry of flushed skin, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hard time breathing, fruity odor on breath, or confusion [American Diabetes Association]), ketoacidosis could lead to loss of consciousness, coma, and death.
The Atkins diet does recommend some exercise with the program. “Even twenty minutes three times a week will reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, but most experts agree it’s best to get 30 minutes of moderate activity 5-6 times a week” (Atkins).
Once Morgan starts losing a sufficient amount of weight, she should wean herself off the Atkins diet, and start slowly converting to a diet high in fiber and low in refined sugars and saturated fats.
High-fiber diets have been found to decrease insulin levels in the blood and lower blood lipid concentrations in study patients with type II diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, the most prevalent type of diabetes (Medical College of Wisconsin). High-fiber foods that Morgan should start to eat are fruits (raspberries, pears [with the skin], apples [with the skin], blueberries, etc.), grains, cereals, & pasta (whole-wheat spaghetti, Bran flakes, rye bread, oatmeal, etc.), nuts & seeds (split peas, lima beans, pecans, almonds, etc.), and vegetables (peas, broccoli, potato [with the skin], raw carrots, etc.). The Mayo Clinic recommends that fiber amounts for women are 21 to 25 grams a day and for men is 30 to 38 grams a day (Mayo Clinic).
With a high-fiber diet, Morgan will also help and prevent elevated cholesterol, colon polyps, and cancer of the colon (Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology). Overall, a high-fiber diet is a better chose for Morgan. However, shedding pounds first would help her body adjust to a new diet.
Taking herbal supplements like; alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), chromium, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), would help Morgan with her type 2 diabetes. However, the herbal supplement ephedra should be one that she stays far from.
Ephedra was widely popular in the early 2000’s as a diet aid and energy booster. However, the side effects outweighed the benefits. Some of the major risk factors are: hypertension, tachycardia, CNS excitation, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death (Mayo Clinic). One sports related case that brought risk factors into the spotlight has the death of Steve Bechler, a prospective pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles (Attkisson).
Ephedra affects diabetes patients in a specific manner. It can raise blood sugars dramatically and make control extremely difficult (The Diabetes Mall). With a side affect like this, Morgan and any diabetes patient should stay away from this possible killer.
Morgan does have a long hard road in front of her. First, she needs to understand that this is not a death sentence for her. She will have to work very hard to keep her diabetes under control. With a proper diet, excise, and the right herbal supplements, she will be able to live a full life.
Works Cited
American Diabetes Association. All About Diabetes. 10 May 2008. 17 October 2008 <http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp>.
American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Statistics. 10 May 2008. 17 October 2008 <http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics.jsp>.
American Diabetes Association. Ketoacidosis. 12 Feb 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/ketoacidosis.jsp>.
American Diabetes Association. Type 2 Diabetes. 1 March 2007. 14 October 2008 <http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.jsp>.
American Heart Association. High-Protein Diets. 6 October 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11234>.
American Heart Association. Nutrition. 19 Aug 2008. 18 October 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3044778>.
American Heart Association. Triglycerides. 12 Feb 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4778>.
American Heart Association. Type 1 Diabetes. 5 Sep 2008. 14 October 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3044758>.
Atkins. Activity. 18 Feb 2008. 2008 October 2008 <http://atkins.com/Science/UnderstandingNutritionAndActivity/Activity.aspx>.
Atkins. Thoughtful Approach. 7 July 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://atkins.com/Science.aspx>.
Attkisson, Sharyl. Ephedra Tied To Pitcher's Death. 18 Feb 2003. 23 October 2008 <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/17/eveningnews/main540848.shtml>.
Brunilda Nazario, MD. Diabetes Warning Signs. 30 May 2007. 14 October 2008 <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42229>.
Chapman, Paul. New Zealand to transplant pig cells into humans against diabetes . 21 October 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/3235865/New-Zealand-to-transplant-pig-cells-into-humans-against-diabetes.html>.
Cynthia Haines, MD,. Diabetes: Diabetes Basics. 2 Feb 2006. 14 October 2008 <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42228&page=2>.
dLife.com. Type 2 Diabetes: Treatment. 3 October 2008. 14 October 2008 <http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/type2_information/treatment/>.
Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD. Type 2 diabetes. 17 June 2008. 14 October 2008 <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/000313.htm#Alternative%20Names>.
Gardner, Amanda. Atkins Diet Can Raise Heart Risks. 7 Nov 2007. 21 October 2008 <http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/news-193389-31.html>.
Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. High Fiber Diet . 5 October 2006. 23 October 2008 <http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs01.htm>.
Mayo Clinic. Diabetic ketoacidosis. 8 Feb 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetic-ketoacidosis/DS00674/DSECTION=causes>.
Mayo Clinic. Ephedra (Ephedra sinica). 1 Feb 2008. 23 October 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ephedra/NS_patient-ephedra>.
Mayo Clinic. High-fiber foods. 19 Aug 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fiber-foods/NU00582>.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Type 1 diabetes. 24 October 2007. 14 October 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-1-diabetes/DS00329/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs>.
Medical College of Wisconsin. Very High Fiber Diet Lowers Blood Glucose in Diabetics. 12 May 2000. 21 October 2008 <http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/958073584.html>.
Medterms. Definition of Diabetes, type 1. 16 Feb 2003. 14 October 2008 <http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12135>.
Michael W. King, Ph.D. Insulin Secretion. 30 September 2008. 14 October 2008 <http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/insulin.html>.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CAM and Diabetes: A Focus on Dietary Supplements. 4 June 2008. 23 October 2008 <http://nccam.nih.gov/health/diabetes/>.
Roche, Hoffmann-La. Trial Information. 17 October 2008. 21 October 2008 <http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/stu140171.html>.
Rossetti, Luciano. Resistin's Action In Brain Linked To Liver Insulin Resistance. 31 May 2007. 15 October 2008 <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/72141.php>.
The Diabetes Mall. Ephedra & Diabetes: A Risky Combination. 23 April 2000. 23 October 2008 <http://www.diabetesnet.com/news/news042300.php>.
University of Virgina Health System. Endocrinology. 2 Nov 2005. 14 October 2008 <http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_endocrin/type1endo.cfm>.
Insulin facts from the American Diabetes Association website
Type 1 warning signs facts from the American Heart Association
Type 2 warning signs facts from MedicineNet.com
Target groups facts from MedicineNet.com
Ephedra was banned in the United States by the FDA on February 6th, 2004