Attention deficit disorder or ADD is more than hyperactivity. Drug therapy can sometimes help, but can also cause problems. At one time the condition was considered to affect only children who would “grow out of it,” but today it is recognized that it may be a lifelong condition affecting adults as well as children. Next month, we’ll look at some myths and controversies accompanying ADD, along with drug therapies.
iabetes is one of the fastest-growing diseases with an estimated three million Canadians affected and, because the disease has only vague symptoms, about 10 per cent of those not even knowing they have it. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects the production of insulin in the pancreas.
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Without insulin, carbohydrates cannot be metabolized, resulting in damage especially to the heart and circulation, the kidneys, and the nervous system.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces no insulin. It is usually considered genetic and affects younger people. In Type 2 diabetes, your pancreas does produce insulin, but it is insufficient or ineffective. About 90 per cent of diabetes cases are Type 2, and here you can actually reduce your risk for the disease.
Type 2 diabetes does have a family tendency which may or may not be genetic. However, the family tendency does reflect a shared lifestyle. Your ethnic background can also increase your risk. For example, First Nations people, African Americans, and Hispanic people seem most at risk.
While you cannot change your heritage, you can recognize it and improve the risk factors that you can change.
The older you are the greater your risk, especially after age 45. This may be because your body, including your pancreas, doesn’t work as well as it once did, or because your lifestyle is not as active as it once was. Regular checkups and screenings are important to catch the diagnosis early, and don’t forget to mention any symptoms of diabetes that you have noticed, for example fatigue, frequent trips to the washroom, unusual thirst, or unexplained weight loss.
Lifestyle measures can help prevent Type 2 diabetes. As well, these measures are always part of the treatment regime. Maintaining an ideal weight is key. There are various weight to height charts and body mass index calculators that you can use to gauge your weight. Weight loss can be difficult, and maintaining an ideal weight can be a lifelong endeavour. However, even a loss of 10 pounds will improve your health, so persevere!
Daily exercise and a healthy diet will help reduce your risk and these measures will also help you lose weight. You need about 20 minutes of exercise each day and don’t forget to include some aerobic activity as well as resistance and flexibility training. A diet low in fat and sugars but high in fibre is ideal. Canada’s Food Guide is a great starting point. Eating regular meals, avoiding salt and processed foods, and paying attention to portion size will also help.
Diabetes can occur during pregnancy and is called gestational diabetes. If you are pregnant, you can be at increased risk if you or a family member have had this type of diabetes, are overweight, have had a large baby, or have high blood pressure. Prenatal care usually includes screening for gestational diabetes, but be aware of the risk you may have.
Some measures will contribute to reduced risk as well as overall good health. Maintaining good blood pressure and low cholesterol levels reduces complications from diabetes. Keeping alcohol consumption to a moderate level will reduce the risk, as will smoking cessation. If you take medications for any other condition, remember to take it and follow any health recommendations for the condition. Keeping healthy is a good defence against diabetes.
If you have a diagnosis of diabetes, you want to reduce your risk for complications. A variety of both oral and injectable drugs, including insulin, is available for control of diabetes. However, you need to follow the prescribed regime. You don’t want to miss doses, take them at the wrong time, or even take too many doses. If you find the regime difficult, you can always ask about a simplified routine that fits into your lifestyle.
With diabetes, you want to make sure you get the checkups you should, for example foot examinations, eye tests, blood pressure, cholesterol levels. Knowledge is power when it comes to both reducing your risk for diabetes, or complications from this disease!
Marie Berry is a lawyer/pharmacist interested in health care and education.
