Type 1 diabetes is referred to as early onset and contributes to about 5 to10 However, some people more easily develop diabetes because of a familial tendency. …
Health Matters
Natural Paths to Healthier Living
The Georgetown Naturopathic Wellness Centre
Fall 2006
Diabetes - An Epidemic
There are two main types of diabetes Type 1 diabetes is referred to as
early onset and contributes to about 5 to10 percent of all diabetes It is
primarily diagnosed in children and young adults who are unable to secrete
enough insulin This disease is not reversible and its cause is auto-
immune in nature
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and represents 90 to 95 percent of
all cases The majority of type 2 diabetes is lifestyle induced However,
some people more easily develop diabetes because of a familial tendency
Most type 2 diabetics produce enough insulin but have developed resistance
to normal insulin action in their tissues This condition may more
correctly be called insulin resistance A smaller portion of type 2
diabetics do not produce enough insulin as well as being resistant to what
they do produce
Insulin resistance takes years to develop before progressing into frank
diabetes and this is where the
condition is identified and best treated
naturopathically
Long before developing insulin resistance and diabetes, most people have
what we call dysglycemia - poor blood sugar control due to poor dietary
choices, chronic stress and a sedentary lifestyle As blood sugar swings,
a person may experience fatigue after eating,
mood swings, insomnia, weight gain and low energy Unfortunately, insulin
resistance then starts to develop and blood sugar levels start to rise
Naturopathically, we treat this pre-diabetic state by controlling the
amount of glucose going into the blood stream, increasing the cells
sensitivity to insulin and controlling the amount of insulin being produced
by the pancreas This is achieved through weight control, stress
management, daily exercise, herbal medicine and certain vitamins and
minerals This regimen is different for each patient depending on their
individual needs
Type 2 diabetes has huge consequences for the duration and quality of a
persons life Chronic complications of type 2 diabetes include blindness,
nerve damage, amputations, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure
Due to
the chronic complications of diabetes, the life expectancy of a
diabetic is 30-50 less than for a non-diabetic from the time of diagnosis
If you or a person you love is at risk for the development of diabetes, or
has already been diagnosed, seek the help of a Naturopathic Doctor Our
focus on preventative medicine and lifestyle-induced chronic disease, makes
us an integral part of your health care team
Announcement
Both of our Osteopathic interns have returned from maternity leave
Genevieve Stewart RMT and
Sandy Charlton CAT are once again accepting patients
Cold and flu kits have arrived
Swiss Chard with Lemon-Garlic
adapted from Fine Cooking Fresh
Swiss chard is similar to spinach and packs an equally nutritious punch
This delicious recipe will help increase the green in your diet
2 lb swiss chard 2 bunches well rinsed, patted dry with thick stems
removed
2 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
Celtic sea salt or other good quality salt
Pinch of chilli flakes
Dressing:
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 small chopped garlic
clove
2 Tbs minced fresh parsley
Roughly chop the swiss chard to get 4-inch pieces Saute the swiss chard
in the olive oil a handful at a time until the leaves are wilted and
shrinking Add the garlic and salt, cover and cook on low, for about 4
minutes While this is cooking make the dressing in a small bowl Now
remove the lid, increase the heat and add the chilli flakes Saute for
about 2 more minutes and then transfer to a serving dish Toss the swiss
chard with the lemon garlic dressing and serve immediately
Save paper Receive this newsletter by email Just call the office or
email us at gnwc@bellnetca
Cosmetic Acupuncture now available Please ask us for information
Learning about Blood Sugar:
Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
Understanding the glycemic index and the glycemic load of foods is critical
in the management and prevention of diabetes Glycemic index is a scale
that measures the specific rate at which glucose from food enters into the
bloodstream Foods are divided into three categories–low, medium, and
high glycemic foods Carbohydrates are
a healthy food choice as long as
they are ranked low-to-medium on the glycemic index For the most part,
all veggies except potatoes, most fruits not dried fruit, whole grains
and beans are ranked low-to-medium on the scale Processed foods such as
white bread, white flour, cereals, pretzels, muffins, candy, soft drinks,
and breakfast bars are ranked high
Calculate Glycemic Load
Glycemic Index 100, multiplied by the carbohydrate content
Glycemic load considers a foods glycemic index as well as the amount of
carbohydrates per serving The glycemic load is important because it takes
us one step further in managing blood sugar For example, carrots-a highly
nutritional food, have a high glycemic index 71 Yet a carrot has only 4
grams of carbohydrates, therefore, the glycemic load is low and carrots
are a healthy food for diabetics Lets look at another example: one cup
of cooked white pasta-the glycemic load is 71, but contains 40 grams of
carbohydrates As you can see, pasta has a high glycemic load because it
is so dense in carbohydrates
The Georgetown
Naturopathic
Wellness Centre
16 Mountainview Road S, Ste 102
Georgetown, ON L7G 4K1
Tel: 905-873-2361 Fax: 905-873-8158
———————–
In Canada alone, the number of people with diabetes is projected to
increase from approximately 14
million in 2000 to 24 million in 2016
Source:bobbyeandjerrysloan.org
