T2 Epidemic

[Cinnabon]

Monday, February 20, 2006

Secret Sickness

Today, millions of americans could be infected with a life threatening illness and not even know it. The disease so dominating, it's even reaching epidemic levels in children for the first time ever. But in tonight's special assignment report, we learned there are ways to identify and cure this secret sickness before it's too late.

WSVN--Just like an alligator lurks, patiently waiting for its prey many men, women, and children are falling victim to a disease that attacks without warning.

Charlucienne Saintange: "It creeps up on you."

Dr. Louis Chaykin: "People walk around with the disease probably between 6 and 9 years before they're diagnosed."

The disease - type 2 diabetes - takes the lives of more people than Aids and breast cancer combined.

Dr. Lorena Lewy-Alterbaum: "We are seeing it at levels of epidemic proportions."

But what makes it even scarier is the illness was once rare in women under the age of 40, but not anymore.
Now, its ambushed an even younger generation.

Charlucienne Saintange: "I never thought this could happen to me."

Maribel Luciano: "It's scary because of the possibility it could impact my life."

Today, about 2-million people under the age of 20 are at high risk for the disease.
Maribel Luciano and Charlucienne Saintange fall in the target range.

Dr. Louis Chaykin: "The reason is because we're seeing more and more younger women who are overweight, who are sedentary."

For Maribel and Charlucienne, their weight and diet make them vulnerable.

Maribel Luciano: "I ate what I wanted, when I wanted, at anytime."

Charlucienne Saintange: "It's when I had my third child I started eating more junk food and drinking a lot of sodas."

Plus their family history puts them at risk.

Charlucienne Saintange: "It runs in my family."

Maribel Luciano: "It's so strong on my grandmother's side, she has it. My uncles have it, it's just there."

But it's not just genetics playing a role in who gets type two diabetes.

You're also at risk if you have high blood pressure, smoke, had gestational diabetes or polycistic ovarian syndrome.

Dr. Louis Chaykin: "The scary part is young people who develop diabetes in their 20's and 30's will develop heart disease in their 30's and 40's."

Belkys Nerey: "There is however a way to stop the diabetes before it gets dangerous. Exercise and eat healthy."

Dr. Louis Chaykin: "If you lose only 7% of your body weight and you exercise 30 minutes 5 days a week you can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by 58%."

Today, Maribel and Charlucienne are determined to not let this secret sickness get the best of them.

Maribel Luciano: "The changes in my life since learning I could be predisposed to diabetes is diet and exercise and my lifestyle. I have to watch what I eat no bread, no rice."

Charlucienne Saintange: "I feel like I have a lot to live for, myself, my kids my family my friends. I have to take charge of my life so I don't become diabetic. If I don't know one else will."

You can easily determine if you're at risk for type 2 diabetes, just ask your doctor to test your blood sugar.

[Sheila]

Dr. Louis Chaykin: "The scary part is young people who develop diabetes in their 20's and 30's will develop heart disease in their 30's and 40's."

I wonder how true that is? I am 35 and this statment is frightening. I do not want to die by the time I am 40. I am trying very hard to correct habits. I don't think I have ever excersised so much! yes, I agree it is an epidemic but that one statement scares me.

[camjen1]

I'd like to see them explain why a person who leads a healthy life, eats all the right foods and is in the ideal weight range can get T2.

[vvti-le]

I'd like to see them explain why a person who leads a healthy life, eats all the right foods and is in the ideal weight range can get T2.
I was only 160# and 5' 10" when I was diagnosed. The first thing my doctor asked me if diabetes ran in my family. I told him it did. I figured he asked me that question because I was not overweight as obesity is linked with T2. Hereditary and genes also has a lot to with diabetes. Luckily I was diagnosed very early because I was stricken with gout in my 20s and had to be put on meds so I was monitored every 6 months with blood work and in my late 30s my doctor had noticed my BG starting to slowly elevate. I think I would of been diagnosed much later hadn't it been for the gout.

[Cinnabon]

I'd like to see them explain why a person who leads a healthy life, eats all the right foods and is in the ideal weight range can get T2.

It would think it has to be hereditary in this case. I really believe that a sedentary life, over eating, and weight gain, out of the normal amount, gets you there.

[hillbilly]

they are spreading it through pills
big money my father n law ,mom , son 13,mother n law ,just came down with i in the last month i been checking the for years one of the pills he was on the side efect was diabetes :flute:
lots the kids around here a 13 are getting it
now i here theres a type 3 on the loose

[Sheila]

they are spreading it through pills

Which pills are they sreading it through?

[vvti-le]

Here in Hawaii 25% of our youths are overweight. The national average is 15%. Fast foods high in fat and sodium are to blame along with inactivity i.e. video and computer games. If nothing is being done about this epidemic, we'll be seeing our youths developing T2 at an early age instead of the 40+ age norm. I take my father to the hemodialysis clinic 3 times a week and the clinic is full. Kidney failure here in Hawaii is another epidemic due to diabetes and hypertension. Just being in the hemodialysis center is a depressing site. A really sad situation.

[liz32]

It is sad that so many kids spend so much time inside playing video games and watching tv. I'm not saying that those things are bad but there seems to be very little moderation. I can't get over the odd looks I get when I say that my kids spent the majority of the time outside climbing trees, building forts and just plain running around. Around here people can't beleive that they like to be outside. They do get to use the computer but it's limited to 20 minutes and it's not always every day. We go to the park on saturday mornings because we know that it will be empty because all the kids are home watching cartoons. It stays empty until about 11 am. I thinks it's sad.
The one thing that I do find frustrating is that every one seems to think that if you're heavy you're getting diabetes and that if you skinny you won't. I know plenty in both camps that don't have it. Certainly the things we do to ourselves contribute but then again sometimes it's just genetic (t2's). I tell my kids that they need to take care of themselves now so that they don't end up with diabetes as it runs in the family. Better to prevent now, then to pay later. But then again, maybe even with being carefull they may still get it, I guess only time will tell.
Liz