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Americans have become so used to lack of exercise and poor nutrition that even the symptoms of such a widespread affliction are not always recognized.
Diabetes is a condition that affects nearly 26 million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. This number accounts for approximately eight percent of the population. In 2007, the most recent year for which numbers are available, diabetes was listed as a cause or contributing factor to death on over 230,000 death certificates. What is perhaps the most frightening fact about diabetes is that about seven million Americans are affected by the condition, but remain undiagnosed. Americans have become so used to lack of exercise and poor nutrition that even the symptoms of such a widespread affliction are not always recognized.
Since some of the main factors that contribute to diabetes are related to activity level and eating habits, the first approach that doctors generally take with diabetic patients is to make adjustments to their diet. What diabetics eat can have a large effect on how seriously the diabetes affects their lives, as the disease is affected by the level of sugar, or glucose, in the bloodstream.
For many diabetics, this change in diet comes as something of a challenge. As Americans, we are not accustomed to watching what we eat, especially when it comes to the types of sugars and fats contained in the foods we consume. Some diabetics opt instead to control the disease with powerful medications; such as, Actos and Avandia. However, these drugs have severe side effects associated with them. For instance, Actos side effects include congestive heart failure, macular edema, and lactic acidosis – a condition that makes the blood highly acidic.
With the dietary restrictions usually placed on diabetics, many are often surprised to find that a diet containing whole milk and fatty meats can actually improve the symptoms that they experience from their diabetes. This is due to the presence of substances known as CLAs, or conjugated linoleic acids, in milk and animal fats. For each ounce of fat from milk, beef, lamb, or veal, around 5 mg. of CLA are taken into the body. Milk and meat fats are the primary dietary source for these conjugated linoleic acids.
So why are these CLAs so important for a diabetes-friendly diet? CLAs can help to make muscle cells more sensitive to insulin, as well as facilitating fat loss. In fact, CLAs act by the same mechanism as diabetes prescription drugs Actos and Avandia, but without the possible health risks from side effects. Both drugs have many severe side effects associated with them. For instance, Avandia has been linked to congestive heart failure, and among other severe side effects an Actos bladder cancer link was recently discovered.
CLAs lower cholesterol levels in the diabetic patient, as well as reducing the levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Unlike drugs such as Actos and Avandia, CLAs also help to lower body fat, making weight loss a more attainable goal without affecting total caloric intake. This can be especially beneficial for patients who are battling other conditions in connection with diabetes, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. Making fewer adjustments to caloric intake can make the treatment process a little less disruptive of the patient lifestyle.
In addition to eating more “good fats,” such as CLAs, nutritionists recommend that diabetic patients eat foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole wheat bread. This is because the lower glycemic index of these types of foods indicates that the sugars will be absorbed by the body more slowly and completely, avoiding potential spikes in blood sugar levels.
