An essay on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a disease of metabolism where there is an inability to process blood sugar (glucose). Our body uses glucose as fuel for brain and muscle function--in other words, energy to drive the machine. In the diabetic the process of converting food to useable components is impaired.

Diabetes is recognized when glucose is not being utilized and when insulin function is not normal. There are many variations on the ratios of insulin to glucose. These can be measured by challenge tests and the resulting ratios can help in designing a therapeutic approach. Some signs of excess glucose in one's system may include fatigue, frequent urination and unusual thirst. There are many more signs and symptoms. The crux of the matter is that unabsorbed glucose is circulating in the blood stream, potentially causing problems to organs and tissues.

Insulin is produced in the pancreas. The pancreas may not be making enough insulin, or the receptor sites on cells are not accepting insulin. The latter is often labelled insulin resistance, syndrome X, or metabolic syndrome. Insulin is the door knob opening the door to bring glucose into the cell. When there is not enough insulin, or the door remains closed, glucose cannot enter and can't do its work.

Insulin and blood sugar want to be tightly regulated. When they are not, damage to organs and tissues ensues. Too much insulin--either by medication or body malfunction, adds greatly to the many long term damages and ravages of diabetes mellitus.

Glucose is manufactured in the body from carbohydrate sources. A small percentage can come from protein. As the blood sugar level rises, insulin is secreted from the pancreas and is transported to the intestine to be absorbed into the blood stream. Insulin lowers blood sugar by increasing the rate of glucose absorption into the cells throughout the body.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, formerly called juvenile onset or insulin dependent (IDDM), occurs most often in children and adolescents. Exogenous insulin administration is necessary to manage this form of diabetes. Daily management is a learned skill and goal. The tighter the management, the lower amount of insulin that is needed. Using the lowest amount of insulin possible can dramatically increase the quality and quantity of one's life. We all should be able to grasp the importance and necessity of saving an extremity, eyes, kidneys, the heart, ability to walk, work, reproduce, years before the damage is obvious, acute and irreversible. A youngster, adolescent, or young adult can have a great deal of difficulty dealing with the stress of this disease, of having a disease, being different from peers, feeling restricted, constricted, deprived. Why me, woe is me, depression can overcome logic and reason--especially from a non-ill person's view point. Denial of disease, thwarting good management and lifestyle considerations, I'll take care of it tomorrow, next week, never, are not infrequent responses. (there is much more to this ongoing discussion. More posts will follow)

Eating Your Way Through the Holidays

There is an urban legend that we will gain 8-11 pounds between Halloween and New Year's Day. That's one half a pound a week. The change in light and temperature may biologically drive us to eat and store more calories to ward off the cold. Also, for various reasons we may choose carbohydrate rich foods over less calorically dense fruits and vegetables. These may be excuses or, perhaps, rationalizations. There is an old saying that "we die by our fork". It may be more true than we realize. Scientists are now suggesting that the food we eat speaks to our genes. The good news is that there are some antidotes to the tempting and tasty food and treats that are put before us.

We can walk or keep our appointments at our local gym to prevent and work off the added pounds. We strongly suggest that you block out the time to do this or it won't happen. Another suggestion is to eat only when you are hungry, and drink water to ward off hunger. Or, eat every two and a half hours to keep blood sugar stable. Eating foods low on the glycemic index adds satiety and a longer time between hunger pangs. (see glycemic index.com) Low blood sugar creates cravings. This means choose nourishing foods and eat at regular intervals as well as nearly the same time on a daily basis. You want to eat food that has some protein component at most of your food contacts, but not a French banquet. Don't throw out portion control.

Have something to eat at home before going out to a party. If you are leaving from the office to go to a party, have a snack before leaving. This could be a fruit and handful of nuts or trail mix. A small sandwich or a good energy bar would suffice.

You are not obliged to eat everything or to eat often, or to drink alcoholic beverages. A glass of sparkling water with lime can last an evening, and no one will know it's alcohol free. Seven Up with a few drops of Angostura Bitters is refreshing, has color, and looks like something. When at the party table concentrate on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. this will give you volume, but lower fat and fewer calories. Remember, for every 100 calories you take in, it takes a mile of walking, swimming, running, skiing, or, cycling, to work it off. For more on this go to http://www.leanplateclub.com/; http://www.fitnessonline.com/; http://www.prevention.com/; http://www.webmd.com/; exercise.about.com. The Lean Plate Club has a series of very good holiday themes that you may enjoy reading. Bon Appetit and please enjoy the Holidays, the company you will be keeping and the positive prospects for the New Year.

Fertility and Diet

The cover story of Newsweek's, 10 December 2007, issue is Fertility and Diet, "Fat, Carbs and the Science of Conception." This article is by Chevarro, Willett, and Skerrett who wrote the new book The Fertility Diet. Diet and food choices, exercise and weight management are discussed. Their research affirms some of the things your grandmother probably intuited as well as confirming that informed choices make an important difference. This difference is realized in the viability of the mother's and father's contribution to conception, a healthy and successful pregnancy, and the health of all after birth, short and long term. The thing that interests me, and hopefully you, is that this is pointing us to the optimum way we should all be eating, not just for conception, but daily. What we eat speaks to our genes throughout our lives. This is an important article, a compelling read and a compelling group of lifestyle choices. Please get it and read it, for yourself and those who are close to you. You may want to check out some of these authors' other books and papers.

Type I Diabetes

Stay tuned for article on nutritional approaches to controlling and preventing Type I Diabetes (juvenile diabetes).

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