Many Latinos in the United States believe common myths about diabetes. Some believe that it can be caused by an emotional shock, a fright or the trauma of immigration. Experts say these factors do not directly cause diabetes, but it is possible that they can harm one's general health and, if someone has the disease without knowing it, it could make the illness apparent.
Some Latinos believe that diabetics have to stop eating all their favorite foods. In fact, after consulting a doctor or dietician, diabetics can establish a dietary plan that includes foods that they like to eat in a way that supports control of their blood glucose levels.
Among the popular Latino remedies for diabetes, only one – Nopales -- is supported by scientific evidence. However, no matter how healthful the cactus leaves are, they cannot take the place of vigilant medial attention, glucose monitoring, regular exercise, a good diet and prescription medicine.
Many Latinos have heard that insulin can be harmful. However, without this substance, which is produced by the body, Type 1 diabetics lose consciousness, fall into a coma and die. The blindness that some suffer is the result of not controlling diabetes; it is not caused by insulin.
Another common belief is that diabetics cannot do hard work. It is true that, if the blood sugar level is not controlled, a diabetic will feel tired and weak. But diabetics who take good care of themselves can work just fine.
Lastly, the many Latinos believe diabetes can be cured. In fact, there is no known cure for the disease, but with good care and medical vigilance, the disease can be controlled and diabetics can live a normal life.
This information is meant only to educate and inform. Do not take or discontinue any action based on this information. It is important to consult your doctor.
There are several factors that increase the risk of developing diabetes and there are ways to prevent the disease and reduce its complications. If you are overweight, are older than 45, and have a family history of diabetes, you could be suffering from pre-diabetes. Millions of people have pre-diabetes and do not know it.
Do you have any of these symptoms:
- The need to urinate frequently.
- Frequent thirst.
- Extreme hunger.
- Tired and irritable without any apparent reason.
- Blurred vision.
If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor. A blood test will determine whether your blood glucose level indicates pre-diabetes.
Your doctor will tell you what steps to follow and whether you need medication to stop the development of diabetes. You may only have to make some simple lifestyle changes.
Watch your weight. Overweight is a very important risk factor for diabetes, and also increases the risk of strokes and heart attack.
Cut back your calorie consumption. Eat fewer foods that are high in fat and sugar and drink fewer sodas and alcoholic beverages. If you smoke, quit.
Make exercise part of your daily routine. Spend a minimum of 30 minutes on activities that require physical exertion. Besides helping you control your weight, exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system.
Learn to relax and control stress. These steps all improve help and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
This information is meant only to educate and inform. Do not take or discontinue any action based on this information. It is important to consult your doctor.
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Like many other dangerous illnesses, diabetes does not discriminate. However, in the United States, Type 2 diabetes affects Latinos at double the rate of whites.
Among Latinos, experts predict that 45 percent of men and 53 percent of women who were born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Diabetes is the causes of one in five deaths of people younger than 25. The prevalence of diabetes varies with age, but among Latinos older than 50, the rate is very high, with almost one in every five Latinos suffering from diabetes.
Diabetes is a silent killer, because the majority of cases are not detected until the disease is in an advanced stage. Diabetes affects 17 million people in the U.S., although almost six million of them do not know they have the disease. Within 50 years, 28 million North Americans will have diabetes.
There is no cure for diabetes, but preventative measures can postpone its onset and prevent the great majority of its devastating complications.
Get a medical exam, especially if you have a family history of diabetes. Take advantage of services at the health department, in clinics and other public agencies in your community to diagnose the illness.
Make it a point to change your lifestyle, like quitting smoking and eliminating, or at least reducing, your consumption of alcoholic beverages and fast food.
Exercise to control your weight.
This information is meant only to educate and inform. Do not take or discontinue any action based on this information. It is important to consult your doctor.
Diabetes does not discriminate. It afflicts people of all races and ethnic groups. However, for reasons that are not easy to understand, diabetes is an illness that has a higher incidence in people of indigenous extraction than among people of Caucasian origin.
For this reason it is very important for Latino Americans to learn how to protect themselves from diabetes, a disease that is one of the most severe health concerns in the United States.
Diabetes isn't caused by black magic, or from having a big fright or from bitterness or anger. It is not contagious.
It is also important to know that, in many cases, the illness cannot be prevented completely if there is a history of the diabetes in the family. While there is no cure for diabetes, it is possible to prevent or postpone it's complications with appropriate medications and a healthy lifestyle.
A healthy diet reduces the risk of developing diabetes. Since overweight and obesity are related to the development of diabetes, a diet low in fat and sugar and high in fruits and vegetables, plus regular exercise is important for prevention. Regular medical exams are the best way to protect your children from diabetes and other illnesses.
This information is meant only to educate and inform. Do not take or discontinue any action based on this information. It is important to consult your doctor.
Talking about diabetes requires terms like insulin, glucose, pancreas, cholesterol, triglycerides, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and tolerance or intolerance to certain substances that the body needs.
These terms can confuse and even scare some people. However, the best defense against the disease is being well informed.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce an adequate amount of insulin or the body doesn't properly use the insulin it produces. The insulin is necessary to convert glucose, a type of sugar, into energy. For this reason, people with advanced stages of diabetes usually require insulin and other medications to control the level of sugar in their blood.
In diabetic people, it is very important to monitor the triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, and LDL cholesterol. Too much of these types of fat in the blood stream increase the risk of heart attacks.
When diabetes is not kept under control, it can cause blindness, heart and kidney problems and amputations of limbs or digits.
Even though there is no cure for this disease, in the majority of cases controlling diabetes is not complicated. Sometimes, all the body needs to function better is a healthy diet and exercise. Medication and insulin may not be necessary.
To prevent diabetes and its complications, include fruit, vegetables and whole grains in your daily diet. Eat small portions of meat and eat small amounts of dairy products that have high amounts of fat, like cheese, butter and ice cream. Dedicate at least 30 minutes every day to exercise. Activities as simple as walking are a big help in protecting your health.
This information is meant only to educate and inform. Do not take or discontinue any action based on this information. It is important to consult your doctor.
