Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

There’s no denying that Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic – the condition was found to affect the wellbeing of 370 million people across the globe last year – but 50% of these cases came from Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. According to a study conducted in New York City, Asian Americans have the highest prevalence of having diabetes or pre-diabetes, with one in every two adults of Asian descent having diabetes or at risk of the disease.

If your body is unable to produce insulin, or unable to properly use and store glucose, this is what’s known as diabetes. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas, which is important for your wellness as it helps glucose get into your cells and turn into energy. Usually, your body turns the food you eat into glucose, and the glucose is then used as energy. However, when you have diabetes, this glucose isn’t absorbed but instead builds up in your bloodstream, reaching dangerously high levels.

Diabetes breaks down into two major types; type 1 and type 2. In the case of type 1 diabetes, which is often caused by genetic factors, your body completely stops producing insulin. With type 2 diabetes, which is more related to lifestyle factors, your body is unable to produce insulin and/or it cannot use insulin properly.  Of those of Asian American descent with diabetes, up to 95% of cases are type 2.

So why is the disease so prevalent among this population group? Asian Americans who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or have a personal history of pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes (diabetes occurring only during pregnancy) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More and more Asian Americans have adopted a less active lifestyle and diet of Western food that is low in fiber, high in fat and calories, which has further contributed to the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in Asian Americans.

The problem that then arises is that language barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate diabetes materials make it more difficult for some Asian Americans to achieve good diabetes control. More needs to be done to produce health care providers who understand their cultural values and the unique cultural challenges that Asian Americans may face. That way, this high risk population group can receive individualised treatment, as well as better prevention strategies.

Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Categories: Americans, Asian, Asian Americans, Diabetes, Epidemic, high risk, population group, Pre-Diabetes, produce insulin, type, Type 2 Diabetes

Stop Pre-diabetes Before It Becomes Diabetes!

Type two diabetes isn’t a condition which you’ll suddenly get. It can take a long time for your level of insulin resistance to get to the point where it does you damage. As such, patients who aren’t diabetic but are well on their way towards diabetes are known as pre-diabetic. A lot of research is being poured into targeting these people before the disease truly sets in, preventing diabetes before it has a chance to hook its claws in. There are already specialist exercise regimes which have proven useful but they’re useless without the right diet. Below is a great pre-diabetic diet, tailored to naturally lower your blood-sugar levels and improve your digestive system in general:

Turmeric – One of this spice’s active ingredients is curcumin, this is said to have potential to delay if not fully prevent diabetes. Early results have been very promising but it’ll take further study and more time to discover whether any lasting benefit can be gleaned from this herb.

Strawberries – Not only do they taste great, they contain an activating factor for a protein in your body which helps to reduce LDL cholesterol and fats in the blood. They’ve also shown the potential to lower blood-sugar levels in mice which could prove useful for us.

Cheese and Yoghurt – Try sticking to low-fat dairy products. The good bacteria found within will do wonders for your digestive process and help you deal with excess blood-sugar levels.

Red Wine – Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine, this compound improves the function of blood-sugar by regulating your insulin. You only need the occasional glass to get the most out of this, no need to get drunk!

Cinnamon – This potent little spice helps to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels which can improve your insulin sensitivity. You only need a little in your diet to get the full benefit so why not add a little to your tea or coffee of a morning?

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Stop Pre-diabetes Before It Becomes Diabetes!

Categories: Diabetes, Insulin, Pre-Diabetes

How To Avoid Diabetes In The First Place

Obesity causes so many healthy problems that it’s almost impossible to list them all in one article. It will damage your heart and your joints, you’ll find it harder to breathe on occasions and it might well infect you with type two diabetes. This disease has become an epidemic worldwide as its biggest contributing factor is obesity itself. Once you’ve got diabetes it’s not going to be something you get rid of easily, as such not getting it should become a priority. Anyone who has been obese or overweight for a protracted period of time is at risk of contracting type two diabetes but there are various steps that can be taken to ensure that you don’t.

People who are at risk of, or on the way towards contracting type two diabetes are known as pre-diabetics. In the USA this group is being particularly focused on as they can still be saved. At this point and with the right diet and exercise regime they can pull out of the nose dive into diabetes and never have to worry about the condition again. Making the changes can be tricky however and many simply won’t until their lives are directly at risk and it’s much too late.

Bimuno is a prebiotic powder which is causing great waves within the pre-diabetic community. By working on improving your digestive system, making it more efficient and healthier, this product makes it easier to manage your weight. Considering how important weight is as a factor to type two diabetes this product could be all you need to ensure you never get the condition in the first place.

Remember that supplements like this should only ever be taken alongside the treatment plan discussed with your doctor. They’re not a replacement for diet and exercise but rather will help you to enhance that, making what you’re already doing far more effective.

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How To Avoid Diabetes In The First Place

Categories: obesity, Pre-Diabetes, Weight Loss

Pre-diabetes and How to Avoid Type Two

Diabetes is a complicated condition which people are prone to oversimplifying. People who’ve never suffered from it or who haven’t had a family member or loved one suffer from it often misconstrue it as one major condition when it actual fact it’s four. Two major forms and two minor and rarely spoken of forms. These are of course types one and two, gestational and double diabetes.

It’s a common misconception that all forms of diabetes are due to the body’s lack of insulin and as such all diabetics require insulin injections to live healthy lives. Only type one diabetics and some far gone and extreme cases of type two require regular insulin and it’s actually very rare for a type two to requite injections of the hormone. Type two can be managed effectively through lifestyle changes and careful blood-sugar level monitoring and providing it’s kept under control it never need escalate to the point where insulin injections are required.

Type two is actually an insulin resistance in the body which slowly worsens to the point where it’s seen as a form of diabetes. It can be prevented if caught early and if the patient is willing to alter their lifestyle. Pre-diabetes is the name given to those who’re on the way to contracting type two diabetes but who aren’t there yet, as I say, these people can still prevent their impending disease with some changes in diet and exercise routines.

Diabetes is a fairly complicated set of conditions and can be difficult to comprehend, especially for those who don’t suffer from it themselves. By learning about the condition and taking some healthy steps towards a better way of living you can help to ensure you continue to live your life diabetes-free and never have to know anything more about the disease than how to not get it!

Pre-diabetes and How to Avoid Type Two

Categories: Advice, Pre-Diabetes, Type Two Diabetes