Effects of Diabetes – Diabetes Sucks the Life out of Us

The Multigenerational Effects of Diabetes – Physiologically, emotionally, financially, community

Diabetes is all about our master hormone Insulin, and mostly caused by our lifestyles, insulin resistance. Insulin helps control blood glucose levels by signaling the liver and muscle and fat cells to take in glucose from the blood. Insulin therefore helps cells to take in glucose to be used for energy. A lack of insulin or a losing the ability to respond to insulin (insulin resistance) leads to diabetes. Insulin is our master hormone, and masters our health.

Yes diabetes sucks, it can suck the life out of us physically, emotionally and financially. The vast majority of type 2 diabetes is a product of lifestyle. Lifestyle choices are passed down in families with a far greater influence than genetics. Given our continuing diabetes epidemic – we can most efficiently break this deadly trend educating larger populations  – communities and companies.

The National Diabetes Statistics Report is a publication of the CDC  providing updated statistics about diabetes in the United States. The data is collected from hundreds of sources around the country. Data here is from the 2017 report:

• 30.3 million people, 9.4% of the U.S. population—had diabetes in 2015
• This total included 30.2 million adults aged 18 years or older (12.2% of all U.S. adults), of which 7.2 million (23.8%) were unaware of or did not report having diabetes
• The percentage of adults with diabetes increased with age, reaching a high of 25.2% among those aged 65 years or older
• 33.9% of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (84.1 million people) had prediabetes in 2015, based on their fasting glucose or A1C level. Nearly half (48.3%) of adults aged 65 years or older had prediabetes
• Among U.S. adults aged 20 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, the estimated crude prevalence of chronic kidney disease (stages 1–4) was 36.5%
• In 2014, a total of 52,159 people developed end-stage renal disease with diabetes as the primary cause
• Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2015

Financial Effects of Diabetes

• The total direct and indirect estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2012 was $245 billion
• Average medical expenditures for people with diagnosed diabetes were about $13,700 per year. About $7,900 of this amount was attributed to diabetes
• After adjusting for age group and sex, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were about 2.3 times higher than expenditures for people without diabetes

The Effects of Diabetes

Diabetic complications are far reaching:

Because diabetes ravages the blood vessels and nerves, there are no limits at all to how much of the body can be destroyed. Diabetes most directly attacks heart health, kidneys, eyes, risk of stroke. Because diabetes effects the nerves, it can destroy mobility, digestion…..and yes memory. High blood glucose levels, over a number of years, can damage the nerves, including those of the brain, which increases the risk of dementia.

Having diabetes can also cause a mental health condition called diabetes distress. This condition shares some elements of depression, mood swings, anxiety, and stress. An estimated 33 to 50 percent of people with diabetes experience diabetes distress at some point during the course of their disease.

We feel better – diabetic and non diabetics – when we control our blood sugar.

 10 Steps to Preventing and Managing Diabetes

1. Quit smoking – and yes – lower exposure to second hand and third hand smoke
2. Manage Body fat levels: Body fat releases some nasty hormones creating havoc with the endocrine system
3. Drink water…Try not so much at meal time as it can dilute precious digestive enzymes – rather in between meals.
4. Muscles are your BFF in life: All exercise  and regular bouts of physical activity through out the day are imperative for every aspect of mental and physical health – but muscles are NOT just for body builders. Muscles are a critical contributor to metabolism & endocrine regulation – Muscles are imperative for blood sugar control. A nasty reality of life called sarcopenia – loss of muscle mass with age – aka use it or lose it – it a perfect explanation for increase risk of diabetes as we age. It is well proven people well into there nineties and centenarians can build muscle.
5. Exercise & physical activity for circulation, heart health, pumping our immune system.
6. Nutrition: Yes to control blood sugar, but nutrition to support exercise and muscle growth. Understand glycemic Index. Unfortunately it is not law in North America to label glycemic index, but it is in many countries of the world. I’ve linked my interview with Dr. David Jenkins – father of the glycemic index
7. sleep well   Restorative sleep – a critical component to hormone regulation
8. Go for regular diagnostics to our healthcare professionals
9. We should all know our blood sugar levels – dialogue with your healthcare professionals, review your blood tests with them. Knowing certain basic biomarkers is more vital than knowing our weight.
10. With all of our wonderful wearable technology – we now have devices that track valuable biomarkers of health in non invasive ways, while enjoying the fun and healthy competition of wearable trackers. Clearly – these devices do NOT replace medical diagnostics – but they can sure help us have more educated, informed conversations with our healthcare professionals.

Managing prediabetes is a great lifestyle – Unfortunately we live in a world that is very supportive of diabetes – with all of our information on controlling and preventing diabetes – we are enveloped in a world that provides an endless supply of high sugar nutritionally deprived carbohydrates, and an inaccurate view of how to be physically active and to get exercise. It is also a great way to prevent many of our other chronic illnesses – including many cancers, heart disease….. The effects of diabetes can be so insidious, the connection is frequently overlooked. We need to focus on targeting large populations of people – so we can start passing down healthier lifestyle habits as part of our legacy.

Corporate health programs…what a wonderful way to affordably  make the world a happier, healthier place. Effective corporate wellness programs preventing the devastation from the effects of diabetes

Chief Health Enthusiast – Best In Corporate Health

• Shira is regularly consulted by Naturopaths, oncologists, health coaches on cancer exercise and exercise adherence.
• Has assembled over 20 health and fitness professionals with varying specialties to bring to corporate wellness programs
• Platforms include: Speaking, One-one/group health coaching, Retreats, Course development for in house delivery, Metrics to measure success available, Partners always included
• Now offering live interactive webinars, just as if each participant has a personal health coach – making corporate wellness programs affordable to all.
• Shira has been interviewed & published in hundreds of resources over the last 12 years:

Articles featured in: ezines, ArticlesInk, European Registry of Exercise Professionals, The National Post, Investment Executive Magazine, Directory of Greater Toronto, Canadian Leukemia & Lymphoma Association, Prostate Cancer Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Anytime Fitness, Today’s Black Woman, Today’s Seniors, Medical Fitness Network, FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Willow (Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support),Myeloma Canada, Cancer Exercise Training Institute, Urban Poling for Breast Cancer, ROW – Recovery on Water for Breast Cancer, Sirius XM Doctor Radio