Recently, I heard an all-too-familiar story in my line of work. A friend mentioned that her local grocer was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack. She knew he had type 2 diabetes since they often chatted about his health and his efforts to control his blood glucose with medication and diet, but had never mentioned heart problems. Confused and concerned, she wanted to learn more.

Starting facts
Diabetes is a leading cause of death by disease in Canada. This disease is so rampant that the 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada developed by the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) in 2003 lowered the at-risk age for type 2 diabetes to age 40 and over – meaning 2.5 million more Canadians are now at risk for type 2 diabetes.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing, with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed yearly. Health Canada estimates that over 2 million Canadians have type 2 diabetes; even more shocking, half are unaware they have it.

A similar picture prevails in countries around the world. In 2000, the World Health Organization estimated that more than 177 million people were afflicted with diabetes worldwide and that by 2025, this figure would surpass a staggering 300 million people. That’s an increase of 12 million people a year.

More complications?
You bet! A disease where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or can’t effectively use the insulin it produces to convert sugar into energy, type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to heart disease: if you have type 2 diabetes, you’re much more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. The CDA estimates that 80% of people with diabetes will die from heart disease or stroke. As a result, they encourage earlier prevention and aggressive treatment strategies for diabetes, including controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

People with type 2 diabetes are also more likely to be overweight or obese. Obesity is linked with abnormal cholesterol; insulin resistance (body cells lose their ability to respond to insulin); and elevated blood glucose, all can further complicate heart problems.

Prevention is imperative
Healthcare professionals can’t stress enough the importance of good blood glucose control. A study released in the Journal of Hypertension (March 2005) demonstrated that elevated blood glucose and insulin levels lead to higher blood pressure levels. Choosing the right foods and committing to an exercise program can significantly improve blood glucose levels.

A diet rich in whole grains reduces blood sugar levels and has also been proven to decrease the risk of developing diabetes. The medical journal, Current Atherosclerosis Reports (2004) reported on 17 studies that found a 20 to 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease and diabetes in people who regularly eat whole grains, compared to those who rarely ate them. Choosing whole-grain in place of refined-grain products may help to improve blood glucose and insulin levels, in addition to contributing to healthier cholesterol levels.

Another food-based study conducted at Harvard University (Boston, Mass) confirms that fish and omega-3 fatty acids introduced into the diet signifi-cantly lowered the death rate from heart disease among women with diabetes. These ground-breaking studies affirm that optimal food choices in fact can heal your body.

H&L

This article has been sponsored by Bayer