Tackling Type 2 Diabetes with Exercise
Are You at Risk?
Check the following groups below to see if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes:
- African-Americans
African –Americans are twice as like likely as non-Hispanic whites to have diabetes. - Asian-Americans & Pacific Islanders
Diabetes is believed to be two or three times more common in Asian-Americans as in non-Hispanic whites. It is the fifth-leading cause of death among Asian-Americans between 45 and 64. - Hispanic Americans
Hispanic Americans are twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have diabetes. - Native Americans
More than 15 percent of Native Americans and Alaska natives have diabtes. One tribe in Arizona has the world’s highest diabetes rate; about half of the adults between 30 and 64 have the disease.
For more information, please call one of the Memorial Diabetes and Nutrition Centers:
Memorial Regional Hospital
(954) 265-5889
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
(954) 986-2234, Press 4
Memorial Hospital West
(954) 844-6801
Memorial Hospital Miramar
(954) 538-4517
Memorial Hospital Pembroke
(954) 963-8013
November 2005 — Of the more than 18 million Americans who have diabetes, 90 to 95 percent have type 2 diabetes, which can result from risk factors such as excess weight, family history and ethnicity. But daily exercise can help control the disease.
In a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people who exercised 30 minutes a day and lowered fat in their diet lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and were able to reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Those who relied on medication alone reduced their risk by only 31 percent.
"Those with type 2 diabetes must realize that simply taking a pill will not make this disease go away," says Robin Nemery, MD, Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and endocrinologist on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital West. "By participating in aerobic exercise, changing your diet and losing weight, your body operates more efficiently."
Physical activity also causes you to burn calories, which works with your body's insulin to normalize glucose (blood sugar).
Understanding Diabetes
The body breaks down food into blood sugar, which supplies us with energy. In order for blood sugar to enter the cells in our bodies, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that regulates metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. Insulin acts as a key to unlock the cells and allow blood sugar inside.
When insulin is not produced adequately or used effectively, blood sugar begins to build up. In addition to depleting the cells of the energy they need to function, high blood sugar levels can lead to heart disease, blindness and kidney disease.
The risk for developing type 2 diabetes increases as we age, with the disease often affecting those 45 or older. But weight is also a key factor. According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 65 percent of American adults and 15 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.
"There is a high degree of obesity in this country, even for children and young adults," Dr. Nemery says. "This can often lead to diabetes 10 to 15 years later. Even those who have a family history of diabetes can benefit from exercise and a healthier diet. The important thing is to take type 2 diabetes seriously and manage it carefully."
Memorial Healthcare System's inpatient and outpatient diabetes programs focus on self-care skills and improving quality of life for diabetic adults and children. Outreach services include community screenings and free support groups.
For referral to a physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.