Get Physique-a-licious

Hello subscribers, in the last issue I mentioned that your
family’s medical history is important on knowing what kind of ailments you may
have inherited.  No one wants to hear
that they are prone to some kind of disease before life gets started.  Knowing what kind of inherited diseases you
may see in the future will help you get a head start on preventing them or at
least lowering your risks. 

 

The most common ailment I see in the Hispanic community is
“Diabetes”.  What is the one thing that
crosses your mind when you hear the word “Diabetes?”   “What is it and do I have it?” 

 

What is “Diabetes?” 
Well, in a nut shell, diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by
high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to
produce and/or use insulin.  Insulin is
the hormone that helps convert all those sugars (glucose) into energy. Everything
you eat gets broken down into some form of glucose. Sometimes our body does not
or is not able to do this effectively. 
Eating additional sugars like simple sugars, such as regular table
sugar, donuts, cookies, cakes, and sodas are all refined sugars and are harder
to break down into glucose than natural sugars. Fruits and vegetables are the
best forms of natural sugar.  They are
grown naturally and your body can break them down much easier. 

 

So, what happens when all these sugars are not used for
energy? Your body stores them for later use. Your body uses only what it needs
based on the activity endured during the day. 
If your activity is not greater than your intake then you are left with
more fat stored.  Ok, yeah, yeah,
yeah!  So, what kinds of diabetes are
there?   Well, there are several
types.  I am only going to mention the two
most common.

 

Type 1 Diabetes is usually found in children and juveniles,
this is where the body cannot produce insulin. This type of diabetes can be
controlled with Insulin Therapy and exercise. Some of the symptoms for Type I
could include frequent urination, unusual weight loss, extreme hunger, unusual
thirst and extreme fatigue and irritability.

 

Type II Diabetes is the most common.  Many people are unaware that they are on the
verge of Type II Diabetes.  What happens
here is that the body can not produce enough insulin or the cells in your body
ignore the insulin.  Insulin is the
vehicle or transportation of the blood to get the glucose to the cells in your
body for energy. When this doesn’t happen the glucose builds up in the blood
and can complicate your body’s ability to function in so many different
ways.  It’s like a big traffic jam at the
light.  If the lights all go out, then
cars get all jammed up and no where to go. A big chain reaction happens, if it
goes on long enough the traffic gets backed up so bad.  Something will need to happen to fix it. 

 

Same thing is going to happen to the body if your diabetes
is ignored?  The build up of glucose is
going to be so bad that there are things that will happen to your body. You
could develop eye complications, foot complications, skin complications, heart
disease, kidney complications, and infections that don’t heal.  The list can go on.  Eventually, your body will break down.

Some of the symptoms for Type II  would include any of type I symptoms,
frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal,
tingling/numbness in the hands/feet, and recurring skin, gum or bladder
infections. It could possible be you have no symptoms.

 

That last paragraph should really hit you hard if you think
or may have symptoms of diabetes.  What can
I do to prevent my body from breaking down?

 

First and foremost you should go see your doctor.  I am in no way able to diagnosis you or give
you medical advice.  I can inform you to
be aware of some things. Have a good medical team.  Be in constant contact with your doctor and
have him/her give you a plan to help you lower your risk of any of the
complications I mentioned.

 

Second, I would like to see you start exercise.  Get up and get moving. Do something fun.
Start gardening, take a line dancing class, walk with the dog, they need
exercise too.  Join the “Step Out: Walk
to Stop Diabetes”  http://stepout.diabetes.org  Do some strength training, stretching; go
play some kickball, or come take a booty camp class with me.  Remember to take baby steps in getting into a
program.  This will be a life long
journey.  It will not be a quick
fix.  Diabetes did not happen overnight,
coping with it will be day by day.

 

Finally, start changing the way you eat.  Limit yourself on the amount of refined sugars
you eat.  Eliminate one thing at a time;
try not to do it all at once.

 

If you would like more information regarding Diabetes, check
out the American Diabetes Association. 

 

In the next issue, the Facts about FAT!

 

By Penny Vieau

My Physique, Inc.

www.myphysiqueinc.com

Hey everyone, I am so excited about participating in this year’s Heart Walk on October 4, 2008. We walk a 5k and able to meet great people. I love this event.