Diabetes is on the increase and it is known to affect mostly black people.
The condition has assumed epidermic proportion.
It is reported that one out of every 5 persons between the ages of 40 and 60 has diabetes.
But for every person who knows they have it, there is someone unwittingly with the condition.
Then there is the possible 20 to 40 percent with impaired glucose intolerance ( where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not as high as in diabetes), which puts them at risk of developing diabetes (and heart disease), again, often without realizing the risk they face.
A pathologist Dr.
Fred Jaikire of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) Nigeria said that diabetes develops when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is persistently too high because the body is unable to use it properly.
This, he said is caused by a lack of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that works to control blood glucose levels.
Diabetes the pathologist said has two main types: "Type 1 diabetes" which usually affects children and people under 40 years of age, and develops when the cells of the pancreas are destroyed and can no longer produce insulin.
This seems to be caused by the body reacting abnormally to these cells, possibly triggered by a virus or other infections.
"Type 2 diabetes" which is by far the most common.
It develops when the body can still make insulin, but not enough for its needs or the insulin that is made is not used properly.
While it runs in families, being obese is a major cause and can make people 25 times more likely to get it.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops in middle age, but appears earlier in overweight people.
Diabetes is reported to carry serious health risks.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), people with diabetes have a higher chance of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, damage of the kidneys and eyes.
IDF reported that about 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes would die from heart disease and stroke.
The risk of these health problems according to IDF is particularly high for those who are also overweight, who smoke or are not physically active.
People with diabetes have a two fifth times greater risk of developing heart disease than the rest of the population.
It can also cause problem with the kidneys, legs, feet, eyes, heart, nerves and blood flow.
If left untreated, these problems can lead to kidney failure, blindness or stroke.
The most important single factor in the treatment for all types of diabetes, according to Jaikire is to control blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of long-term health problems.
He said, " Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections and a healthy, balanced diet.
Type 2 diabetes is treated by a healthy diet alone, or diet and tablets, or diet and insulin.
Regular medical check ups, lifestyle advice, dietary updates and regular exercise are strongly advised.
" Nutritionists insist that diet plays a key role in helping people treat diabetes and stay healthy.
The good news is that special foods are not needed; a balanced diet is the main stay.
They advise that people with diabetes really do not need to take extra care to eat regularly and make healthy food choices because their well-being depends on it.
Diabetes cookbook is recommended by Dorling Kindersley.
Eat regular meal based on starchy foods such as pasta, noodles, potatoes, rice, bread and cereals.
Include whole meal or whole grain varieties to boost fiber and nutrients.
Make foods with low glycermic index (GI).
The GI is a rank of carbohydrates rich foods from 0 - 100 that indicates how quickly a food will cause a rise in blood glucose levels.
The lower the GI, the more gradual the rise which helps to regulate blood glucose and appetite.
Cut back on saturated fat.
Too much can raise cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Eat plenty of vegetables, beans and fruits.
Aim for at least five portions each day.
They are packed with vitamins, fiber and protective antioxidants, which seem to help reduce the risk of heart disease, and keep the circulation healthier.
Limit sugar and sugary foods.
Sugary drinks and too many sugary foods can make blood glucose rise too quickly and so be difficult to control.
A small amount of sugar is still okay as an ingredient in processes foods, and in home cooking.
Eat less salt and salty foods.
A healthy limit is 7 grams a day for men and 5 grams for women.
Try flavoring foods with herbs and spices.
Keep to sensible drinking limits that is not more than 2 to 3 units per day for a woman and 3 to 4 for a man.
Alcohol guidelines for people with diabetes are 1-2 units per day for women and 2- 3 units per day for men.
The high fiber diet is also good for children with juvenile diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) reported English researchers at the John Radelife Hospital in Oxford, England.
Their study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, showed that children receiving 60 grams of fiber a day were shown to have more stable blood sugar than children who received 20 grains of fiber a day.
Recent trials published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have demonstrated that lentils and other legumes are particularly effective in diabetic diet because of their slow release of carbohydrates.
French researchers have also demonstrated the usefulness of apple pectin in insulin-dependent diabetes.
The pectin effectively reduced post-meal insulin needs by 35 percent, or 40 to 60 percent of the total daily needs in four diabetics involved in the study published in Diabetes Metabolism.
Regular physical activity has become accepted to lower blood sugar and reduce the need for insulin.
Researchers believe that the positive effects of exercise may have something to do with an increase in insulin and binding at the cellular level.
Most hormones like insulin work by binding to cells at a specific site on the cell membrane.
In a study conducted by Yale University, United Kingdom, Dr.
Vijay R.
Soman, showed that exercise consisting of one hour stationary cycling, four times a week had positive effects on insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers.
Although the men's body weight remained the same, their sugar uptake by insulin was 30 percent higher after exercising.
Insulin binding to monocytes (white blood cells) also increased by 35 percent, Interestingly, insulin sensitivity improved in proportion to the physical fitness of the people tested.
The researchers concluded in the report published in New England Journal of Medicine that the study suggests physical training can be valuable in the treatment of obesity because it augments tissue sensitivity to insulin whether or not it causes weight loss.
Recent studies have also shown that chromium - rich brewer's yeast - improve glucose tolerance.
Chromium, a trace element, is reported to be essential for maintaining a healthy heart and also promotes healthy glucose control.
Chromium is also reported to play a role in speeding up the healing of wounds in diabetics.
Another element possibly helpful in diabetes is zinc.
It is reported to increase the potency of insulin, glucose tolerance and speeds wound healing.
Nutritionists advise diabetics to eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than the two or three big meals.
Researchers have found that multiple frequent fillings tend to keep blood cholesterol levels lower, for diabetic and non-diabetic alike.
People should endeavor to substitute polyunsaturated fats like those found in red meat - goat, cow and sheep for the saturated type- like found in plants and sea foods when possible.
Certain medicinal herbs have been scientifically proven to complement the dietary treatment of diabetes.
Their actions are reported to enhance and in some cases substitute that of the anti-diabetic medicines which are taken orally.
After extensive clinical trials for certain herbs on diabetics, the Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants recommends, bilberry, artichoke, cabbage, St.
Benedict Thistle, and walnuts for diabetes.
The condition has assumed epidermic proportion.
It is reported that one out of every 5 persons between the ages of 40 and 60 has diabetes.
But for every person who knows they have it, there is someone unwittingly with the condition.
Then there is the possible 20 to 40 percent with impaired glucose intolerance ( where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not as high as in diabetes), which puts them at risk of developing diabetes (and heart disease), again, often without realizing the risk they face.
A pathologist Dr.
Fred Jaikire of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) Nigeria said that diabetes develops when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is persistently too high because the body is unable to use it properly.
This, he said is caused by a lack of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that works to control blood glucose levels.
Diabetes the pathologist said has two main types: "Type 1 diabetes" which usually affects children and people under 40 years of age, and develops when the cells of the pancreas are destroyed and can no longer produce insulin.
This seems to be caused by the body reacting abnormally to these cells, possibly triggered by a virus or other infections.
"Type 2 diabetes" which is by far the most common.
It develops when the body can still make insulin, but not enough for its needs or the insulin that is made is not used properly.
While it runs in families, being obese is a major cause and can make people 25 times more likely to get it.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops in middle age, but appears earlier in overweight people.
Diabetes is reported to carry serious health risks.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), people with diabetes have a higher chance of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, damage of the kidneys and eyes.
IDF reported that about 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes would die from heart disease and stroke.
The risk of these health problems according to IDF is particularly high for those who are also overweight, who smoke or are not physically active.
People with diabetes have a two fifth times greater risk of developing heart disease than the rest of the population.
It can also cause problem with the kidneys, legs, feet, eyes, heart, nerves and blood flow.
If left untreated, these problems can lead to kidney failure, blindness or stroke.
The most important single factor in the treatment for all types of diabetes, according to Jaikire is to control blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of long-term health problems.
He said, " Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections and a healthy, balanced diet.
Type 2 diabetes is treated by a healthy diet alone, or diet and tablets, or diet and insulin.
Regular medical check ups, lifestyle advice, dietary updates and regular exercise are strongly advised.
" Nutritionists insist that diet plays a key role in helping people treat diabetes and stay healthy.
The good news is that special foods are not needed; a balanced diet is the main stay.
They advise that people with diabetes really do not need to take extra care to eat regularly and make healthy food choices because their well-being depends on it.
Diabetes cookbook is recommended by Dorling Kindersley.
Eat regular meal based on starchy foods such as pasta, noodles, potatoes, rice, bread and cereals.
Include whole meal or whole grain varieties to boost fiber and nutrients.
Make foods with low glycermic index (GI).
The GI is a rank of carbohydrates rich foods from 0 - 100 that indicates how quickly a food will cause a rise in blood glucose levels.
The lower the GI, the more gradual the rise which helps to regulate blood glucose and appetite.
Cut back on saturated fat.
Too much can raise cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Eat plenty of vegetables, beans and fruits.
Aim for at least five portions each day.
They are packed with vitamins, fiber and protective antioxidants, which seem to help reduce the risk of heart disease, and keep the circulation healthier.
Limit sugar and sugary foods.
Sugary drinks and too many sugary foods can make blood glucose rise too quickly and so be difficult to control.
A small amount of sugar is still okay as an ingredient in processes foods, and in home cooking.
Eat less salt and salty foods.
A healthy limit is 7 grams a day for men and 5 grams for women.
Try flavoring foods with herbs and spices.
Keep to sensible drinking limits that is not more than 2 to 3 units per day for a woman and 3 to 4 for a man.
Alcohol guidelines for people with diabetes are 1-2 units per day for women and 2- 3 units per day for men.
The high fiber diet is also good for children with juvenile diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) reported English researchers at the John Radelife Hospital in Oxford, England.
Their study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, showed that children receiving 60 grams of fiber a day were shown to have more stable blood sugar than children who received 20 grains of fiber a day.
Recent trials published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have demonstrated that lentils and other legumes are particularly effective in diabetic diet because of their slow release of carbohydrates.
French researchers have also demonstrated the usefulness of apple pectin in insulin-dependent diabetes.
The pectin effectively reduced post-meal insulin needs by 35 percent, or 40 to 60 percent of the total daily needs in four diabetics involved in the study published in Diabetes Metabolism.
Regular physical activity has become accepted to lower blood sugar and reduce the need for insulin.
Researchers believe that the positive effects of exercise may have something to do with an increase in insulin and binding at the cellular level.
Most hormones like insulin work by binding to cells at a specific site on the cell membrane.
In a study conducted by Yale University, United Kingdom, Dr.
Vijay R.
Soman, showed that exercise consisting of one hour stationary cycling, four times a week had positive effects on insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers.
Although the men's body weight remained the same, their sugar uptake by insulin was 30 percent higher after exercising.
Insulin binding to monocytes (white blood cells) also increased by 35 percent, Interestingly, insulin sensitivity improved in proportion to the physical fitness of the people tested.
The researchers concluded in the report published in New England Journal of Medicine that the study suggests physical training can be valuable in the treatment of obesity because it augments tissue sensitivity to insulin whether or not it causes weight loss.
Recent studies have also shown that chromium - rich brewer's yeast - improve glucose tolerance.
Chromium, a trace element, is reported to be essential for maintaining a healthy heart and also promotes healthy glucose control.
Chromium is also reported to play a role in speeding up the healing of wounds in diabetics.
Another element possibly helpful in diabetes is zinc.
It is reported to increase the potency of insulin, glucose tolerance and speeds wound healing.
Nutritionists advise diabetics to eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than the two or three big meals.
Researchers have found that multiple frequent fillings tend to keep blood cholesterol levels lower, for diabetic and non-diabetic alike.
People should endeavor to substitute polyunsaturated fats like those found in red meat - goat, cow and sheep for the saturated type- like found in plants and sea foods when possible.
Certain medicinal herbs have been scientifically proven to complement the dietary treatment of diabetes.
Their actions are reported to enhance and in some cases substitute that of the anti-diabetic medicines which are taken orally.
After extensive clinical trials for certain herbs on diabetics, the Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants recommends, bilberry, artichoke, cabbage, St.
Benedict Thistle, and walnuts for diabetes.