According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050.

There are many risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes some are controllable and some are not.

Risk factors include:

Uncontrollable Risk factors

• Being over the age of 40
• Family History
• Being a member of a high diabetes risk group: Aboriginal, Hispanic, African/Caribbean Decent, South Asian, Asian, and the list continues to grow as more research is done.
• Gestational Diabetes, or having a baby that weighed over 9lbs (4kg) at birth
• Diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin)
  • Schizophrenia

Risk factors that can somewhat be controlled by lifestyle:

• Being Overweight
• Inactivity
• Large waist size (Carry most of your weight around the abdomen)
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol and other Blood fats

Note: None of these risk factors is eating too much sugar or sweets! However indirectly this can add to weight gain which can increase risk for Diabetes.

Reference: Canadian Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.ca/Files/are-you-at-risk.pdf

As seen on PerezHilton.com:

“Wow, Drew Carey is looking skinny! The Price is Right host has lost 80 lbs. by going on a strict diet, eliminating carbs, and hitting the gym non-stop. For him, that means at least 45 minutes of cardio a day – six days a week! The comedian said he was diabetic with Type-2 diabetes, adding, “It sucks being fat, you know.” But since losing all those LBs since January, he says, “I’m not diabetic anymore. No medication needed.” Good for him! We’re proud of you, Drew!”

Dietitian Response:

It is terrific that Drew Carey has made positive changes of increasing physical activity, watching his portion sizes of meals and losing weight to help control blood sugars. However, you never want to skip out on Carbohydrates! Carbohydrates are what our body needs for energy, to help with our metabolism, our Brain would not function without Carbohydrates.

When most people think about Carbohydrates they think breads, pasta, sweets, etc. However Carbohydrates include all grains and starches, all fruits, and milk and alternatives (mostly milk and yogurt). It would be impossible to eliminate carbohydrates and you would not be able to live without them.

It is true that people with Diabetes need to watch their Carbohydrate intake as too much can cause high blood sugars, however eliminating Carbohydrates can also raise blood sugars. Why? Physiologically our body needs sugar to function, if we eliminate Carbohydrates from a meal our liver ends up making sugar instead to compensate for lack of carbohydrate intake (not good). NEVER SKIP OUT ON CARBOHYDRATES AT MEALS!

Also Drew Carey still has Type 2 Diabetes. Just because you no longer need to take Diabetes medication because you are controlling your blood sugars via lifestyle factors does not mean you have been cured of Diabetes. Diabetes does not go away, once you have it, you have it for life. However you can have well controlled blood sugars which prevent complications that can arise from uncontrolled Diabetes ie. heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, etc. If Drew Carey no longer controls his Diabetes with lifestyle factors, and/or his pancreas starts producing less insulin he will need to go back on Diabetes medications.

Any Questions or Comments??

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