Article
Diabetes: The "Silent Killer"
An overweight man came into my
office complaining of frequent urination and excessive thirst. He complained of
needing to urinate as much as six times per night.
I checked his urine and the sugar in
his urine was high. His blood sugar was 300. I checked his heart and it showed
evidence of a heart attack. This man was walking around, and probably had been
walking around for years, with diabetes, not knowing he had it.
Diabetes
is a silent killer. It is increasing in the United States because more and more
Americans are obese. Diabetes is directly related to obesity, especially to what
I call the “apple-shaped obesity”. By apple-shaped obesity, I mean the
weight that is concentrated primarily
around the trunk, around the abdomen. That is the dangerous fat associated with
diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetes has many complications.
It’s related to heart disease and stroke. It is the number one cause of
blindness. It is also related to kidney disease and kidney failure, where people
need dialysis. It is related to neurological diseases, in which people lost
feeling in their extremities. In worst case scenarios, it can lead to
amputations. It is related to peripheral vascular disease, also.
So, why are so many people
developing this disease?
It is because of the epidemic of
obesity and it is because of what we are putting into our bodies. We are
ingesting way too many sugars and way too many starches and not enough of
God’s foods.
What happens when we put in sugars
and processed foods? They have a high glycermic index, which causes sugar to
rush into our bloodstreams. When sugar rushes into our bloodstreams, the insulin
level increases. The insulin then tells the body to store fat and it pushes the
sugar into the cell. Over time, with elevated insulin levels, eventually the
insulin receptors on the cell do not function properly and you develop insulin
resistance. When this occurs, blood sugar starts to rise. Then with elevated
blood sugar, people start to urinate more, start to get thirsty, and start to
develop signs of diabetes.
Once
again it starts with your diet. We have got to cut out the processed foods. We
have got to cut out the high glycermic foods and sugars. Cut out white flour.
Start eating more fruits and
vegetables – more of God’s foods instead of man’s foods.
Start exercising. Brisk walking
three to four times a week for 20 minutes helps to lower blood sugar.
And finally start taking certain
vitamins and minerals, especially chromium. Alphalipoic acid, vitamin E, vitamin
C, and magnesium also help.
These simple things can help prevent
the dangerous complications associated with diabetes.
Dr. Don Colbert is a licensed
medical doctor who specializes in alternative therapies. A graduate of Oral
Roberts University School of Medicine, where he earned his
Doctorate of Medicine, Dr. Colbert received his board certification from
Florida Hospital in Orlando. He presently runs a private practice where he helps
thousands discover the joy of walking in “Divine” health.
www.cbn.com
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