You are four times more likely to have this disease if you...
By Amber
@AmbiePam (93738)
United States
March 23, 2013 3:02pm CST
Okay, no one panic when I say this. It doesn't mean it's going to happen to you. But when I read that diabetics are 4x more likely to get dementia, it really made me think. I'm not diabetic, and if you are, please don't panic. A lot of diabetics live to be old and do not have dementia. But apparently blood sugar is key in keeping your chances of dementia down. Inflammation is the culprit, and blood sugar makes that worse.. The foods that are bad have lots of sugar, gluten, lots of red meat, and are processed. But I don't care what anyone says, eating healthy is expensive. I bought a pear the other day and was dumbfounded at the cost of one stinking pear. I bought organic chicken and although I rarely buy meat anyway, I was still disappointed at the cost. Because my mother is only 53 and is deeply taken by this horrible dementia, it is often on my mind. I've taken note on foods that help lower inflammation, like celery and certain kinds of cherries. I'm finding ways to put celery in food. I can't seem to just eat it by itself.
Is there a particular disease you think about often because it is in your family? How is your blood sugar?
*Just to give Type II diabetics hope, my sister was once diabetic. She lost over 100 pounds and is no longer diabetic and does not have to take any medication. Now actually losing the weight is the hard part, especially for those who have physical limitations for exercise. I totally understand.
5 people like this
14 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Mar 13
It is super expensive to try to eat healthy food.. also rather inconvenient to have to make everything from scratch. I'm probably killing myself with the junk I eat because I hate preparing food. As far as my genetics go, the main thing I'm worried about is my eyes because my mother got glaucoma and cataracts in her 40's and is now legally blind because of it.
3 people like this
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
3 Apr 13
Thanks for this discussion, i am 67 now, i have type 2 diabetes, my sugar level is fully controlled using medicines, but tests show the nerves at bottom of feet, palms are damaged, i am taking medicines for this too, i know there is no cure for this, it is a slow killer, i avoid sweets, rice etc.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
24 Mar 13
I'm so sorry your mom has been stricken with dementia. My mom got dementia the last year of her life.
My brother was a type 2 diabetic. He lost 160 pounds and no longer gas the disease. I'm lucky I'm not diabetic.
2 people like this
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
23 Mar 13
hi dear Ambie, I am diabetic and I try my best to limit the quick carbs which go to the bloodstream too soon, so I eat whole grain bread, rice and pasta, I know which fruits are good for me and which are not such a great choice and try to get more veggies.
I may get dememtia as an old person, but I hope if I do its the kind which erases the short term memory but you are still reacting thankful for visitors even if you dont recognize them and kind deeds from others. Ending up as a nice old lady who is happy and contented most of the time.
I am not sure whether my mother had dementia but she was a person who basically mistrusted and criticized people left and right when she was in her right mind and this grew stronger in old age. For the last years of her life she was doing nothing else than criticizing everyone for everything that was done for her and accusing people left and right. I dont want to end up like that.....
2 people like this
@rosa880906 (80)
• China
24 Mar 13
there's no family history of special disease in my family,at least up to my grandpa.Though my immunity is low,and keeps getting cold,but I don't think hard disease would come to me,LOL
2 people like this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
24 Mar 13
Heart disease, quite rampant on my paternal side...both my Father and his Brother (my Uncle) passed before the age of 53! But, of course, old school boys...living with the pain, and never seeing a Dr. It seems we are prone to BAD cholesterol...and until recently I was not aware that it could be genetic! I do genuinely care about my diet to avoid bad HDL, but I still have to take statins.
Diabetes, is one of the most serious, many faceted diseases, and SO personal! The courses that I took on Diabetes (just touching the tip of the Iceburg)gave me a new respect for how devastating a disease this can be, ravaging all body parts! A best friend of many years, with juvenile onset (apparently one of the worst) had two kidney transplants, both feet amputated...and it is a disease that scares the daylights out of me! It tells me, we have to be so vigilant about our food intake! It annoys me so greatly, that unless labels are totally read, the inclusion of High Fructose Corn Syrup included in things you would least expect!
I also have read that there is a link between some forms of dementia, and "aluminium" as in cookware, tin foils (misnomer)..and in things we least expect like; shampoo's and anti-perspirants! What to do?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93738)
• United States
24 Mar 13
I ran across someone here on mylot who had a sister with Type I diabetes. And she railed against people with Type II diabetes. Because Type I, you cannot prevent. My grandfather had Type II, and if he had lived longer, he would have had to have his feet amputated, no doubt. All my grandmother made was sugar. Even when he had diabetes and she knew it, all she did was give him food loaded with sugar. I'll never forget the last Christmas with him, she brought him four different pieces of pie. My uncle, myself, and my dad just looked at each other like, are you trying to kill him NOW? There is wanting to make someone happy, and then there is contributing directly to the problem.
The more I read about how companies try to disguise what is really on those labels, the more I wish I could eat all organic. Even sometimes organic is misleading!
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
24 Mar 13
Yes fresh fruits and veggies are expensive but if they give a few years extra then are they really that expensive? Also I raise a few things each spring and summer and fall that help. I live in an apartment and have to grow things in flower pots but I love the fresh stuff.
Yes I have type two diabetes. I am overweight and have been since my heart bypass surgery. I lose a few pounds but am still working on losing more. Now the doctor tells me that I am stage three kidney failure, all this has been caused by the diabetes.
2 people like this
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
24 Mar 13
It's good you are widely informed. Others die young for reasons of not fully knowledgeable of the disease that hounded them for years while others don't have medical insurance and the high cost of medication. I totally agree that one should follow a diet no matter what.
2 people like this
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
24 Mar 13
that is for sure and the most important thing is dementia strikes us a lot and we need to get rid of it quite soon
@squallming (1775)
• Malaysia
24 Mar 13
I heard before that diabetes can be inherited. So if one does have diabetes, their children could easily get it too. That is why we should take only recommended amount of sugar and drink a lot of water. We don't have diabetes in our family, but there is one medical condition that is running through my family. It is excessive sweating. It worries me quite a lot because it will certainly make one's life very different from those who do not have this medical condition.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
24 Mar 13
Hi,
In our family no one is diabetic. My parents also don't have diabetes. But it is true that we should eat healthy food although it is expensive. We should take care of our health because if your health is fine then only you have the energy to work. I feel sorry for your mother. Thank you for sharing important information.
2 people like this
