Diabetes - General

Sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, an epidemic which affects nearly a quarter billion people worldwide and accounts for 6 percent of all global deaths. Along with diet and exercise, researchers have also found that lifestyle modifications such as drinking less alcohol are also instrumental in delaying the onset of the condition.

Diabetes (types 1 and 2) is characterized by a disordered metabolism and abnormally high blood sugar resulting from insufficient levels of insulin. As a result, diabetics typically exhibit symptoms such as excessive urine production (due to high blood glucose levels), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (to compensate for the increased urination), blurred vision due to high blood glucose effects on the eye's optics, unexplained weight loss, and lethargy. Too much glucose, or blood sugar, in the blood can cause damage to the eyes and kidneys, and also leads to heart disease, stroke, and limb amputations over the long term.

Recent research had a surprising result. The study was conducted among older, Hispanic and African Americans who had Diabetes. Older adults comprise 40% of all diabetics, so they are an important group to reach out to with assistance in exercising more frequently.

All the members in the study were furnished with a pedometer. Amazingly, they met their goal of 10,000 steps per week, and also increased the intensity of their exercise.

Are there any safety considerations for people with diabetes when they exercise?

Exercise is very important for people with diabetes to stay healthy, but there are a few things to watch out for.

You should avoid some kinds of physical activity if you have certain diabetes complications. Exercise involving heavy weights may be bad for people with blood pressure, blood vessel, or eye problems. Diabetes-related nerve damage can make it hard to tell if you’ve injured your feet during exercise, which can lead to more serious problems. If you do have diabetes complications, your health care provider can tell you which kinds of physical activity would be best for you. Fortunately, there are many different ways to get exercise.

What are some good types of physical activity for people with diabetes?

• Walking vigorously,
• hiking,
• climbing stairs,
• swimming,
• aerobics,
• dancing,
• bicycling,
• skating,
• skiing,
• tennis,
• basketball,
• volleyball, or
• other sports which are active

Why is it important for people with diabetes to be physically active?

Physical activity can help you control your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure, as well as raise your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol. It can also help prevent heart and blood flow problems, reducing your risk of heart disease and nerve damage, which are often problems for people with diabetes.

Preventing and Treating CVD in People with Type 2 Diabetes

CVD is the main killer of people with type 2 diabetes. For this reason, the NIH is studying the best strategies to prevent and treat CVD in people with diabetes in three major studies. These studies are all joint efforts of the NIDDK and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial is the largest clinical trial to date to examine the long-term health effects of voluntary weight loss. This multi-center, randomized clinical trial is studying the effects of a lifestyle intervention designed to achieve and maintain weight loss over the long term through decreased caloric intake and increased exercise. Look AHEAD will focus on the disorder most associated with being overweight or obese, type 2 diabetes, and on the outcome that causes the greatest morbidity and mortality in people with type 2 diabetes, CVD.

What will the future bring?

Researchers continue to look for the cause or causes of diabetes and ways to manage, prevent, or cure the disorder. Scientists are searching for genes that may be involved in type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Some genetic markers for type 1 diabetes have been identified, and it is now possible to screen relatives of people with type 1 diabetes to determine whether they are at risk.

Hope Through Research

NIDDK conducts research in its own laboratories and supports a great deal of basic and clinical research in medical centers and hospitals throughout the United States. It also gathers and analyzes statistics about diabetes. Other Institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research on diabetes-related eye diseases, heart and vascular complications, autoimmunity, pregnancy, and dental problems.

Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, everyone with type 1 diabetes died within a few years after diagnosis. Although insulin is not considered a cure, its discovery was the first major breakthrough in diabetes treatment.

Today, healthy eating, physical activity, and taking insulin are the basic therapies for type 1 diabetes. The amount of insulin must be balanced with food intake and daily activities. Blood glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose checking. People with diabetes also monitor blood glucose levels several times a year with a laboratory test called the A1C. Results of the A1C test reflect average blood glucose over a 2- to 3-month period.

The National Institute of Health offers general information about diabetes, pre-diabetes, diagnosis information, pregnancy and diabetes, and a dictionary of diabetes terms to help you cope with your particular form of diabetes.