B8 Terrace Review — Wednesday, November 21, 1990 Diabetic diet good for all, local dietitian says — by Harriett Fjaagesund It is estimated that over one million Canadians are now af- flicted with diabetes. And these numbers are increasing at a rate of six percent per year. Diabetes is listed as the third leading cause of death by disease in North America, after heart disease and cancer. In order to sustain life, our bodies must convert the food we eat into energy. This is achieved through a complicated chain of chemical reactions. Insulin is a chemical produced by parts of the large gland called the pan- creas. Insulin must be present in the bloodstream in order for body cells to absorb glucose (a pure form of sugar created by the digestive tract). Glucose is the fuel needed by all body cells to continue work- ing properly. When individual cells are unable to obtain enough glucose fuel they literally starve, which means the entire body starves, Diabetes falls into three categ- ories: e Type 1 — Also called Juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, this is the most serious form and can appear at any age, but most commonly occurs from infancy to the late thirties. The pancreas produces little or no in- sulin, so the individual must take daily injuections of insulin in order to stay alive. The onset of juvenile diabetes can be swift and severe. e@ Type 2 — Maturity-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes usually begins in the middle or later years of life. It usually oc- curs more gradually and with less severe symptoms than those of juvenile diabetes. The body either cannot produce sufficient amounts of insulin or receptors on muscle or body cells are un- able to absorb enough insulin. Type 2 can often be controlled with careful attention to diet and body weight. Sometimes oral medication is required. e Gestation Diabetes —- Preg- nancy puts the body under a - great deal of stress which may temporarily upset the delicate balance needed to keep every- thing operating at peak efficien- cy. This type of diabetes disap- pears after the birth of the baby. Symptoms of diabetes can in- clude increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger (with weight loss, because your body is not absorbing fuel), it- ching of the skin, a ‘‘run-down’’ feeling, changes in vision (dia- betes is the major cause of blind- ness in Canada), and slow heal- ing of cuts and wounds. » Insulin therapy does not cure diabetes, it only controls it by approximating the body’s own insulin-producing abilities. As a consequence, it does not prevent the disease from causing ongo- ing damage to the body: heart attack, stroke, nerve damage, amputations, blindness, and kidney failure. Exactly what causes the breakdown of the _ insulin- producing parts of the pancreas in unclear, nor is it fully un- derstood what factors are re- sponsible for maturity-onset diabetes. It is known that diabetes is hereditary. There is no clear-cut formula for avoiding the disease. People have become diabetic after an injury. An infection can play havoc with the pancreas. Joan Marr, dietician at Mill Memorial Hospital explains that diet may play an important role. We are basically a junk food society, and an obese society. ‘A healthy diet, Marr says, should be low in cholesterol and fats and high in fibre, not the other way around. Diet and ex- ercise are especially important for diabetics; they must main- tain a balance between food, in- sulin, and exercise. Diabetes is a self-help disease, With proper care and attention, and a little common sense, it can be brought under control. The diet diabetics must follow is a very simple diet and is one Marr recommends for everyone. | She stresses that as the hospital dietician she is available without charge to anyone (not just dia- betics) who wishes to learn more about proper diet, or people who are trying to lose weight, with a doctors referral. All you need to do is ask your doctor for a referral slip. The government is now offer- ing refunds to diabetics on the test strips used with glucose meters (used to measure blood glucose). To be eligible for the refund individuals must attend the diabetic day care clinics at the hospital where they are taught how to correctly use the glucose meter. They will receive a certificate that will enable them to apply for the refund. The Canadian Diabetes Asso- ciation is the single largest non- governmental source of funding for Canadian research into the causes, treatment, and preven- tion of diabetes. 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