There are two basic forms of diabetes. Type I occurs in children and adolescents, but only in between five and ten percent of all cases. The more common is Type II, or Adult Onset Diabetes (AOB). The difference between the two types is that whereas in Type I insufficient insulin is produced in the body, in Type II, insulin is produced, but cannot be utilized effectively by the body. The good news is that although AOB or Type II can often be prevented or controlled by careful use of diet and exercise, some patients may need a range of drugs to control it.

If diabetes is left unchecked, it can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, disability, amputations and even death. Type II diabetes is often called the mid-life disease because it is most common in people aged 40 and upward but the causes are still a mystery. Excess fat in the body can trigger the onset of diabetes due to the prevention of insulin from working effectively. Many people with Type II are overweight, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 26 or more. Steroids can trigger it, and often other family members have it too. The symptoms for Type II and Type I are the same and include the need for frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, general irritability, weakness, fatigue, and nausea. Other symptoms of Type II may include recurring gum or bladder infections, hard to heal or itchy skin, blurred vision, and numbness. Sometimes symptoms with Type II are so mild that they can go unnoticed.

How can you help your body protect against diabetes?

A combined approach is the best. Make certain that you have a healthy, balanced diet. Exercise regularly and lose excess weight without putting stress on the body. Exercise has been known to help beat back diabetes, but as with all new activities it should be started gently to prevent giving the body a sudden shock. If you haven’t exercised for some time, start with stretching and a brisk walk, or begin with a regular swim. Try to build exercise into your daily routine, and the 20-minute mini-morning workout, which is available by e-mail from [email protected] would be a suitable starting point for many. If you think you have diabetes, do consult your doctor about exercise as it consumes blood sugars for energy.

Recipe of the Week

Stir fried tomato and chicken salad

Serves 4

(My recipes are intended provide healthy meals for the whole family to enjoy)

Ingredients

2 tbsp. olive oil

3 shallots, sliced

350g char-grilled chicken breast pieces

450g cherry tomatoes, halved

250g packet washed and ready-to-eat crunchy salad (shredded white cabbage, carrot, mixed peppers, frisee lettuce — or whatever is available in the market)

2 tbsp. garlic vinegar

Method

Heat the oil in a large frying pan and quickly brown the shallots. Add the chicken and stir-fry for about 2 minutes, then add laved cherry tomatoes and salad. Stir-fry for a further 11/2 minutes. Stir in vinegar and heat throughout. Serve with warm Arabic bread.

Ask Alva:

I am a regular reader of your SlimLines and I would like to know more about my health and fitness. I do moderate activity of exercise and eat 1,700 calories burn about 500 calories in exercise. I would like to have a low carbohydrate and high protein diet. I am getting too much fat around my stomach and I would like to have your advice on this. How many calories should one eat? And what kind of exercise should I do in order to get rid of abdominal fat? — Swaroop

I don’t recommend going on one of these faddy, low carbohydrate, high protein diets. They can lead to trouble in the long-term. Although exercise does help to burn off fat, burning calories is not the whole answer to weight loss. If your calorie intake is 1,700 a day, then I would suggest that you are eating too much food. The ideal calorific intake is around 1,300-1,400 though this depends on the individual. If you are overweight, then exercise will not reduce fat in any particular area as all you are doing is working on the muscles that lie beneath the fat. — Alva