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HEALTH
TYPE 2 DIABETES:
PREVENTION LIES IN DIET, EXERC ISE
24
Vero Beach 32963 / September 25, 2014
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™
HEALTH
The American Diabetes Association reports that 25 percent of
Americans over the age of 60 now
have diabetes, but a leading local
physician still believes the disease is preventable.
Diabetes is a well-documented
disease. Type 2 is the most common; it is tied to family history,
being overweight, and an inactive
lifestyle. Type 2 generally has its
onset later in adulthood.
Most people, even those with
no vested interest, know there is
also Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in children and young
adults. In Type 1, the body makes
little or no insulin. In Type 2, the
body makes insulin, but doesn’t
use it the right way.
Dr. Deepti Sadhwani, a physician of
internal and bariatric medicine who
established Quality Health Care in Sebastian 15 years ago where she treats
many diabetic patients, believes that
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented
with diet and exercise.
“Carbohydrates are the biggest
culprit,” Sadhwani says, “Our bodies
don’t know what to do with them, so
they are stored ‘for later’. Unless we
are going to run a marathon, later
25
HEALTH
Type 2 diabetes: Prevention depends on diet, exercise
By MARIA CANFIELD
Correspondent
Vero Beach 32963 / September 25, 2014
never comes, carbohydrates become fat, and carrying that extra
weight increases the risk for Type
2 diabetes.”
Dr. Sadhwani is also concerned
about popular misconceptions
that people have about different
kinds of foods and their ties to
diabetes. For example, there is a
popular misconception that all
fruits and vegetables are good for
you and can’t do any harm. The
truth is that all fruits and vegetables are not created equal, as
some are high in carbohydrates
and should be avoided, such as
grapes, bananas, pears, apples,
corn, potatoes and carrots.
If Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed,
treatment involves oral medication (insulin injections in severe
cases), avoidance of fatty and sugary foods, and consistent exercise
– five days a week, at least 30 minutes
each time.
Diabetes affects many body systems and parts and can contribute
to many other related conditions, all
of them potentially serious and warranting close and constant examinations by medical professionals, but
one body part that is at particular risk
from diabetes is the foot.
Many bad things can happen to the
feet because of diabetes, but there are
measures people can take that can help
prevent problems.
Diabetes doubles the risk of foot
conditions, as it causes damage to
blood vessels and peripheral nerves.
Alarmingly, 60 percent of all lower
limb amputations are a result of diabetes. Two of the most serious conditions are Peripheral Artery Disease
(PAD) and Peripheral Neuropathy,
and both are diabetes-related.
PAD is the narrowing of arteries
outside of the brain and heart, resulting in decreased oxygen flow to
hands and feet. Severe cases can result in ulcers and tissue death (gangrene). In Peripheral Neuropathy,
damage to the peripheral nerves
decreases sensation in legs and feet,
making it more difficult to feel injuries – the feet can’t effectively send
information to the brain.
Other common foot-related problems include:
•
Dryness, due to dysfunction
of the nerves that control oil and
moisture, which can cause skin to
peel and crack.
•
Calluses, which are potentially dangerous for diabetics because
they can hide a developing ulcer.
•
Ulcers, most commonly on
the ball of the foot or on the bottom
of the toe, which can lead to infection.
•
Poor circulation, which can
make feet less able to fight infection.
Dr. Sadhwani says that preventative foot care is a critical component of all treatment plans, and that
annual foot exams are essential.
“Physicians should look for signs of
neuropathy,” she says, “as well as
checking the skin for corns, blisters,
and calluses, all of which can lead to
infection.”
Some specific guidance on at-home
care, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association:
•
Check feet regularly for red
spots, swelling, and blisters. Don’t forget to check between the toes (blisters
and infections can start there) and the
soles – if necessary, use a mirror or
ask someone to help.
•
Wash your feet every day, and
dry carefully, especially between toes.
•
Keep your skin soft and
smooth by rubbing a thin coat of lotion on the tops and bottom; diabetics
often have dry skin, which can crack
and peel, allowing germs to enter.
•
Trim toenails straight across
and use an emery board to smooth the
edges.
•
Always wear shoes and socks;
shoes should be comfortable, with a
smooth lining.
•
Protect feet from hot and
cold; don’t put your feet in hot water, and never use hot water bottles,
heating pads, or electric blankets –
you can burn your feet without realizing it.
•
Keep blood flowing to your
feet – put your feet up when you can,
wiggle your toes often, don’t cross
your legs for long periods of time.
•
Don’t smoke, as smoking decreases blood flow and negatively affects circulation.
In addition, Dr. Sadhwani emphasizes the importance of exfoliation
(removal of dead skin) as a way to
prevent the growth of bacteria and
possible infection; it can be done
with a washcloth, pumice stone, or
loofah.
Diabetes is a serious disease,
which can affect many other parts
of the body as well. While foot problems may be more evident, diabetes
also affects other parts of the body,
including eyes and kidneys.
That’s why annual exams are critical for diabetics. Patients should
also be diligent about getting flu and
pneumonia shots to prevent infections, and keep close tabs on their
blood pressure.
Dr. Sadhwani is passionate about
education to both prevent diabetes –
and treat it properly if it manifests itself; she says it’s the most important
prevention tool we have.
Anyone with diabetes, or concerned
about developing it, should seek guidance and information from his or her
physician, and talk specifically about
diet. While diet advice for diabetics is
widely available on the internet, it is
often contradictory.
Your physician is still your best bet! 
26
Vero Beach 32963 / September 25, 2014
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™
HEALTH
Dentists don't want plastic beads in your toothpaste
By Abby Phillip
Washington Post
The tiny plastic beads found in
many popular toothpaste brands are
approved by regulators, but dentists
are becoming increasingly alarmed
that the beads could cause more dental hygiene problems than they solve.
Polyethylene plastic beads became
all the rage in personal care products
– including toothpastes, face washes
and body scrubs – a few years ago. And
the Food and Drug Administration
says they're safe.
But the beads do not disintegrate
and are not biodegradable, and dentists are concerned that they're getting stuck in the tiny crevices between the teeth and gums.
"They’ll trap bacteria in the gums
which leads to gingivitis, and over
time that infection moves from the
gum into the bone that holds your
teeth, and that becomes periodontal
disease," dentist Justin Phillip said, according to Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV.
"Periodontal disease is scary.”
The beads are similar to the slightly
larger exfoliating beads the Illinois
legislature banned this year because
the products can't be sifted out of the
water supply and can end up in large
bodies of water, where they can harm
marine life.
But that same substance is in widespread use in toothpaste products,
including a variety of Crest products
such as Crest 3D White and Crest ProHealth. And according to Crest, the
product is really used only to provide
color to toothpaste.
Months ago, Texas-based dental
hygienist Trish Walraven sounded the
alarm on her personal blog about the
harm she has seen done to her patients
– and even her children. She urged her
patients to stop using the products.
"Polyethylene plastic is in your
toothpaste for decorative purposes
only," Walraven wrote. "This is unacceptable not only to me, but to many,
many hygienists nationwide. We are
informing our patients."
In response, Crest said in a statement
this week that it has begun phasing out
microbeads from its products, a process that will be completed by
March 2016. A spokesman for the
company told
the Post that he
decision
was
made "months
ago" in response
to "changing consumer and
dental professional preferences."
"While the ingredient in question
is completely safe, approved for use
in foods by the FDA, and part of an
enjoyable brushing experience for
millions of consumers with no issues, we understand there is a growing preference for us to remove this
ingredient. So we will," the company said in a statement to KNXV. "We
currently have products without
microbeads for those who would
prefer them. We have begun removing microbeads from the rest of our
toothpastes, and the majority of our
product volume will be microbeadfree within six months."
The American Dental Association,
which endorses some
Crest products, stands behind the
beads, citing a lack of clinical evidence
questioning their safety.
"The American Dental Association’s
(ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs,
on an ongoing basis, monitors and
evaluates the safety of all ADA SealAccepted products," the association
said in a statement this week. "If the
council’s evaluation determines sufficient scientific evidence exists that
an ADA Seal-Accepted product poses a health risk, the council has the
authority to withdraw the Seal from
that product." At this time, clinically
relevant dental health studies do not
indicate that the Seal should be removed from toothpastes that contain
polyethylene microbeads." 