Diabetes? I’m a Diabetic? NOT!… (with me)

by Anthony J Sepe

http://fromadietitiansperspective.blogspot.com

 

Diabetes, you ask about.  One of the many things we do as Dietitians,’ is to  assess  an individuals nutritional status.  In doing so, we know that a metabolic disorder or medical condition can prevent our body from absorbing specific nutrients, such as carbohydrates or protein.  One common example, diabetes, which is the inability to produce enough insulin, the hormone our bodies use to metabolize carbohydrates. 

I’ve often been told over the years by patients, ‘ I’m a diabetic.’   However, when in treatment with me, quickly, and I hasten to add, very quickly-- it is learned, that,   YOU ARE NOT A DIABETIC, but rather, “YOU ARE A PERSON WITH DIABETES  Now, re-read that statement again.  Let it sink-in.  Next, I would like you to take a piece of paper.  Draw a large circle.  Inside the circle, please write your name.  Outside of the circle, draw spokes, (like rays of the sun) all the way around the circle.  Further, on each line or ray of the circle, write something about yourself.  For example, mother, wife, daughter, friend, PTA Director, bowling leader, father, golfer … etc. (I think you get the idea)

Do you know why I just did that exercise with you?  Because you are a person.  You are a person who may happen to have diabetes, or you may have been just diagnosed with diabetes, or you may be a person that has maintained tight control of your diabetes.  In any of these situations, you are a person-first, because you still are the mother, wife, daughter, friend PTA Director, bowling leader, father, golfer, or tax accountant, or what have you.  If you have a headache, are you still the same person?  If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or low blood sugar, are you still the same person?  Well, then, here I teach you that:  Because you may be someone with Diabetes, you are still the same person, and, don’t let it define you.  All those spokes around the circle that I had you draw, make-up-you! 

Diabetes can affect many millions of Americans, without, even knowing they have it.  Diabetes, of course, must be effectively managed and managed properly.  I said earlier, that diabetes was the inability to produce enough insulin, which is the hormone our bodies use to metabolize carbohydrates.  Another way to say the same thing, is simply:  diabetes affects the way your body and my body uses energy in our food.

Glucose is sugar and is let go from a carbohydrate in our food.  When the sugar is in the blood, its then known as, blood sugar and sometimes, blood glucose.  Insulin takes care of and controls this blood sugar (in those individuals that do not have difficulties with insulin or otherwise are healthy individuals.)  Glucose then goes to a receptor on the cells (like a vacuum cleaner that sucks it inside the cells) and it gets converted into energy.

With diabetes, ‘the person with diabetes’ often times will have difficulty keeping the blood sugar stable.  Our bodies don’t make enough insulin and can’t use it correctly.  Carbohydrates, protein and fats are not used in the right kind of way.  The sugar builds-up in the blood, which then causes the blood sugar levels to go up.  It should be used for energy, but instead, is spilled over into the urine, and excreted.  This makes the bean-shaped kidneys work twice-as -hard, which can cause constant running to the bathroom to urinate.  It can also cause someone to be very thirsty, and  constantly drink water because of trying to quench thirst.   Therefore, following an eating plan is very important for  ‘a person who has diabetes.’