Diet Key in Type Two Diabetes

Diet Key in Type Two Diabetes

Diabetes is the nation's fifth-deadliest disease, killing more than $200,000 Americans each year. Almost a third of that population may not even know they have the disease. Type two diabetes, where the body fails to use insulin properly, usually begins in adults.
The body starts to become resistant to certain types of foods.

We told you yesterday about type one--or juvenile--diabetes, where the body turns on its own pancreas (Researchers Looking for New Diabetes Treatment). In type two diabetes, the disease progresses when people don't take care of themselves properly, and eating certain foods can be the culprit.

For Raphaela Ortiz, eating right is a concern. Almost two decades ago, bad eating habits almost took her life. "I was very sick, I didn't know what was wrong with me," she said.
That was in 1999, when Raphaela was diagnosed with type two diabetes. "I lost weight, I couldn't eat, I was in very bad shape."

And in need of a total lifestyle change to get her diabetes under control. She turned to St. Joseph's/Candler diabetes educator and dietician Lisa Herzig to help her out.
A chronic disease, type two diabetes won't allow the body to break down carbohydrates, so they stay in the system causing people's blood sugars to go up. The body's cells become resistant to insulin, which usually breaks down foods.

"The pancreas still does produce insulin, but the sugar is not getting into the cells like it should," explained Herzig.
That's a major difference between type two and type one diabetes. Type one is usually found in children. There, the pancreas doesn't produce any insulin at all. That disease is brought on by another stimulus, like a virus.

But type two diabetes is mainly triggered by eating habits and can, for the most part, be prevented. "Through watching the foods that they eat, the amount of foods that they eat, the portion sizes, increasing physical activities," said Herzig.
Raphaela found out the hard way, but says by changing her lifestyle, she's been able to keep her diabetes under control.

Diabetes usually affects people between the ages 30 and 50 and can affect the whole body, such as kidneys, eyes, feet, circulation and your heart.

Reported by: Melanie Ruberti