Diet, Sugar, Diabetes and The Naked Chef

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Check out these statistics from Dr. Gabe Mirkin on diabetes and then hit the link and watch the segment from ABC’s Nightline on what Jamie Oliver (aka The Naked Chef) is suggesting and doing to help the obesity problem. 2 things stand out- First, he says that we need a huge tax on sugar to discourage its overuse in pretty much everything we eat. Second, he points out that you have no chance of making big cultural shifts in something like diet and nutrition without a primetime TV show. That is a really interesting point when you consider the TV commercials that huge companies like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc run constantly to lure people into their restaruants. One other thing to note- he seems to recognize that the change will have to come with the kids and not adults. So he is teaching kids about diet and nutrition while they are still “saveable”.

In 2007, 233,619 Americans died from diabetes. 60 percent of the U.S. population over 65 suffers from diabetes or pre-diabetes and most have not even been diagnosed (Diabetes Care, February 2009). Four important reports should spur you to act if you have any of the risk factors for diabetes: “Diabetes Doubles Your Chances of Suffering from Dementia” (Diabetes, January 2008); “HBA1c Test Predicts Which Diabetics Will Lose Brain Function” (Diabetes Care, February 2009) “Rigorous Workouts Lasting as Little as Three Minutes May Help Prevent Diabetes by Helping to Control Blood Sugar” (BioMed Central Endocrine Disorders, February 2009); and “Exercise Capacity Predicts Which Diabetics Are at High Risk for Dying Prematurely” (Diabetes Care, March 2009).

If you have any combination of the following risk factors, suspect that you may be diabetic and check with your doctor:
* store fat predominantly in your belly, rather than your hips
* family history of diabetes
* overweight
* exercise less than three times a week
* high blood pressure
* HDL cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL
* triglyceride level greater than 150 mg/dL
* history of diabetes during pregnancy or birth to a 9-pound baby
* thick neck
* polycystic ovary syndrome
* dark, thick skin around neck or armpits
* history of blood vessel disease to heart, brain, or legs
* HBA1C greater than 5.8
* fasting blood sugar greater than 100
* sugar two hours after eating greater than 100
* member of a high-risk ethnic population (e.g., African-American, Hispanic/Latino- American, American Indian, Alaskan Native or Pacific Islander)

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The Naked Chef