Keaten McDonald

Intro to Nutrition
Diabetes: a life altering disease

Diabetes is a debilitating and life altering disease that causes numerous health

complications and can eventually lead to death. I chose diabetes because it has personally

affected my family. My grandfather had diabetes all his life, my dad was pre diabetic, my great

aunt was diabetic and my uncle is diabetic. I carry the genes that could lead to diabetes so I know

the importance of practicing the preventive techniques that I will be discussing in this paper.

There are a few different types, causes, complications and treatment options for diabetes. The

main preventive treatment I found interesting was the effects of diet and exercise on the risk and

symptoms of diabetes. In almost every journal, website, article I found it stated that a healthy

diet and physical activity lead to a statistical decrease in the risks of diabetes. After learning of

the health complications associated with diabetes I plan to incorporate a healthy meal plan and

exercise into my day to day life.

While diabetes comes in many different forms, the scholarly definition of diabetes (also

known as diabetes mellitus) from the World Health Organization is a metabolic disorder of

multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat

and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both

(World Health Organization Department of Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance). A more

basic definition provided by the Mayo Clinic:

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses

blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important

source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues...If you have

diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood,

although the causes may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health
 problems. Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2

diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes when

your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be

classified as diabetes and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy

but may resolve after the baby is delivered (Mayo Clinic).

To summarize, diabetes is a disease caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. There are a few

different types of diabetes type 1, type 2 and gestational. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in

children and young adults. The body does not produce enough or has a lack of insulin. Type 2

diabetes; your body does not use insulin properly or becomes insulin resistant. The third type,

gestational, is a form of diabetes found in pregnant women that usually goes unnoticed because

of the lack of symptoms (Mayo Clinic).

There are many causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The number one cause is genetics

followed by environmental factors, such as viruses, that trigger the disease. Lack of exercise,

which leads to being overweight or obese is linked to insulin resistance. Genetic mutations, other

diseases, damage to the pancreas, and certain medicines may also cause diabetes. The pancreas is

a key part in insulin production any damage to its cells that produce insulin can lead to diabetes.

Genetic mutations to the pancreas, like cystic fibrosis (a mutation that produces thick mucus that

causes scarring in the pancreas), make it less able to make insulin. Another cause of diabetes is

hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis causes the body to store too much iron which can damage

the pancreas and other organs. There are different hormonal diseases cushings syndrome,

acromegaly and hyperthyroidism that cause insulin resistance which leads to diabetes. There are

also medicines that disrupt the way insulin works: niacin, diuretics, anti-seizure drugs,

psychiatric drugs, HIV treatment, pneumonia treatment, medicines used to treat inflammatory
illnesses and anti-rejection medicines. The other type of diabetes, gestational diabetes, is

developed during pregnancy and is caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy along with

genetic and lifestyle factors (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).

There are many symptoms that follow diabetes. The American Diabetes Association

states the following are symptoms of diabetes: urination often, feeling very thirsty, feeling very

hungry-even though you are eating, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts and bruises that are slow

to heal, weight loss-even though you are eating more and tingling pain or numbness in the hands

and feet some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Women with gestational diabetes often have no symptoms (American Diabetes Association ).

Diabetes can have extreme complications on your body. There can be foot complications,

risk of stroke, ketoacidosis, ketones, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome, kidney

disease, high blood pressure and gastroparesis. It can cause neuropathy numbness, skin changes,

calluses, ulcers and poor circulation in the feet. People with diabetes are far more likely to have a

foot or leg amputated than other people (American Diabetes Association ). There is also a high

risk of stroke. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is suddenly

interrupted. Then brain tissue is damaged. Most strokes happen because a blood clot blocks a

blood vessel in the brain or neck. A stroke can cause movement problems, pain, numbness and

problems with thinking, remembering or speaking. Some people also have emotional problems,

such as depression, after a stroke (American Diabetes Association ). Another complication of

diabetes is ketoacidosis; a condition that leads to diabetic coma or even death. You could also

get ketones which is when our cells dont receive the glucose they need for energy; the body

begins to burn fat for energy which produces ketones. This happens from a lack of insulin.

Another complication is Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome which happens

when blood sugar levels rise and your body attempts to pass it in your urine. This can lead to

severe dehydration will lead to seizures, coma and eventually death. Kidney disease can also be a

complication of diabetes. Kidneys filter waste out of the blood and turns it into urine. High levels

of blood glucose make the kidneys filter too much blood. This then leads to a leak from the

filters and useful protein is lost in urine. High blood pressure, another complication, is the force

of blood inside your blood vessels. The higher your blood pressure the higher chance of heart

disease. Diabetes can also cause gastroparesis a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to

empty its contents. This can cause bacterial overgrowth because the food has fermented. It can

cause the food to harden into solid masses that may cause nausea, vomiting and obstruction in

the stomach (Mayo Clinic).

There are many forms of treatment for diabetes; blood sugar monitoring, insulin

medications and oral medications. The main recommended steps to treat it are: eating a healthy

diet, maintaining a healthy weight and participating in regular activity. Eating healthy can be

described as many things but the basis is cutting down on sugar, refined carbs and eating more

fruits, vegetables and whole grains (Mayo Clinic). While diabetes is a common disease every

individual needs their own healthcare plan. Another form of treatment is transplantation. When

key organs are damaged a transplant can replace the damaged organs. There is islet, pancreas and

kidney replacement among the main transplants (American Diabetes Association ).

There are hundreds of ways to prevent diabetes but here are some of the more beneficial

ones. Drink a large glass of water ten minutes before your meal so you feel less hungry. Keep

meat, chicken, turkey and fish portions to about three ounces. Try filling your plate with

protein, grains, vegetables and fruit. Try to be active for at least thirty minutes, five days a

week. Make healthy food choices; cut back on high fat foods like whole milk, cheeses and fried
foods. Drink water instead of juice and regular soda (National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases). The Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health attributes

diabetes in women to these five key factors: excess weight, lack of exercise, a less-than-healthy

diet, smoking and abstaining from alcohol. They believe controlling your weight, exercising, a

healthy diet, quiting smoking and alcohol consumption every now and then will lower your risk

of diabetes (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health ).

Extent of diets role in the chronic disease

The key to moderating and somewhat preventing diabetes is a healthy diet. A healthy diet

can have positive effects on your blood glucose levels. There are things that can make your

blood glucose rise and fall: a meal, inactivity, side effects of medication, infection, illness,

changes in hormone levels and stress. High blood pressure can also become a problem overtime

if untreated. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease which combined with diabetes would

be difficult to manage. There are ways to reduce your blood pressure: eat whole-grain

breads/cereals, try herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods, choose foods with less than

400 mg of sodium per serving and limit your alcohol consumption. Cholesterol is another

important factor in moderating diabetes. There are two types of lipoproteins (group of fats that

are part of the bodys metabolism) involved with cholesterol: Low-density and high-density.

These lipoproteins can be harmful if there is too much of one kind. Low-density lipoproteins

(LDL) are known as bad cholesterol and can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. The

lower your LDL the better. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) also known as good cholesterol can

help remove cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL the better. There are ways to

improve your cholesterol by eating low-fat, low cholesterol foods with plenty of fresh veggies,

whole grains and fruit. Also my increasing monounsaturated fats in your diet. These can include
canola oil, avocado oil or olive oil. There are also medications that can lower your LDL

cholesterol and help prevent or calm your diabetes symptoms (American Diabetes Association ).

Not only is physical activity a form of treatment for diabetes it is also a form of

prevention. It manages the blood glucose levels and has many health benefits which are: lower

blood glucose levels, lower blood pressure, improved blood flow, weight control, mood

improvement, and sleep improvement (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney

Diseases). I was able to find a journal that documented the effects of aerobic (exercise which

improves oxygen consumption and increases the functioning of the cardiovascular and

respiratory systems) exercise with type 2 diabetes:

Several studies have shown the positive effects of aerobic exercise based on different

intensities on the improvement of T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes mellitus). Aerobic exercises

comprise of swimming, cycling, treadmill, walking, rowing, running and jumping rope.

Moderate aerobic exercise leads to maintenance of the blood pressure in diabetic

neuropathy patients. However, most of the randomized trial studies showed that high-

volume aerobic exercise produced weight loss with significant improvement in insulin

sensitivity. Aerobic exercise improves the physiological parameters, including glycemic

control, fasting blood-glucose level and lipid profile. Moreover, it can restore the

endothelial function and reduces the arterial stiffness which is the positive denominator

for developing cardiovascular complications in T2DM (Zar Chi Thent).

The graph below is an excellent representation of the effects of exercise on patients with type 2

diabetes. The graph shows exercise leads to skeletal muscle contraction which increases the

glucose uptake and overall lowers the blood glucose level.

 Source: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080436.s001

Another study from the American Diabetes Association stated that for every kilogram of weight

loss, there was a 16% reduction in the risk of diabetes increased physical activity predicted

weight loss. Increased physical activity was important to help sustain weight loss (Hamman).

As you can see from the data I collected from numerous websites, journals and articles,

diabetes is a deadly disease. It can have a drastic effect on your body. Unfortunately inheriting

the genes for diabetes is uncontrollable. Either you have it and should practice the preventive

techniques or you wont inherit the gene and be affected by it. Like mentioned above the

preventive techniques are the key to diminishing the risk and symptoms of diabetes. The main

risk reducer I found in almost every source was a healthy diet and physical exercise. You can

offset the symptoms and risks by following a diet low in fats and sugars and exercising regularly.

The list of complications was enough to scare me into reconsidering how I eat and increase my
physical activity. I know I cant control inheriting the gene but at least I can lower my risk and

practice preventive techniques. Diet and exercise is truly an important ally in our fight against

diabetes.
 Works Cited

American Diabetes Association . Diabetes Symptoms. 1 June 2015. 8 July 2017.

<http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms/>.

Hamman, Richard F. "Effect of Weight Loss With Lifestyle Intervention on Risk of Diabetes."

29 September 2006. Diabetes Care. 11th July 2017.

<http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/29/9/2102.full>.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . "Simple Steps to Prevent Diabetes." n.d. The

Nutrition Source. 10 July 2017. <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/diabetes-

prevention/preventing-diabetes-full-story/>.

Mayo Clinic. Diabetes. 31 July 2014. 08 July 2017. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091>.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms and Causes of

Diabetes . November 2016. 8 July 2017. <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-

information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes>.

World Health Organization Department of Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance. "Part 1:

Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus." Definition, Diagnosis and

Classification of Diabetes Mellitus and its Complications Part 1 (1999): 66. 08 07 2017.

<http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/66040/1/WHO_NCD_NCS_99.2.pdf>.

Zar Chi Thent, Srijit Das and Leonard Joseph Henry. "Role of Exercise in the Management of

Diabetes Mellitus: the Global Scenario." 13th November 2013. PLOS one. 11th July

2017. <http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0080436>.