Another Compelling Reason

If anyone is struggling to find a reason to lose weight and get healthy once and for all, perhaps this will help.  There was an article posted on CNN.com yesterday that said diabetes doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.  Doubles!  Being overweight is a leading factor in development of Type 2 diabetes, and as the obesity rate in the United States continues to climb, the percentage of individuals with Type 2 diabetes continues to climb as well.

According to the CNN.com article, "Diabetes could contribute to dementia in several ways, which researchers are still sorting out. Insulin resistance, which causes high blood sugar and in some cases leads to type 2 diabetes, may interfere with the body's ability to break down a protein (amyloid) that forms brain plaques that have been linked to Alzheimer's. High blood sugar (glucose) also produces certain oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cells, in a process known as oxidative stress. 

In addition, high blood sugar -- along with high cholesterol -- plays a role in the hardening and narrowing of arteries in the brain. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, can bring about vascular dementia, which occurs when artery blockages (including strokes) kill brain tissue.

"Having high glucose is a stressor to the nervous system and to the blood vessels," says David Geldmacher, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The emerging information on Alzheimer's disease and glucose shows us that we do need to remain vigilant on blood sugar levels as we get older."

The good news is that being at a healthy weight reduces our risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  The other good news is that eating six small, low-glycemic meals a day helps stabilize blood sugar levels. 

By following this program, eating six small meals a day and getting to a healthy weight, we can reduce our risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or, for those already diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, can help to better manage the disease.  My own weight loss and my continued habit of eating small, frequent meals has kept my own blood sugar readings at normal levels for over 4 years, which is very exciting for me!

I write a lot about focusing on what we want, not on what we don't want.  What I want is to not only be physically healthy as long as I can, but also mentally sharp.  The CNN.com article gives me hope that maintaining a healthy weight and managing my blood sugar will increase the likelihood that I'll be able to do both.

The choices we're making today will have short-term results (if we're staying on plan, we'll be at our goal in a matter of weeks or months!), but there are also long-term ramifications.  Making new, healthy choices now and permanently incorporating them into our lifestyle will impact our lives for decades to come.  For the short-term AND for the long-term, choose wisely :-).

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If you'd like to read the entire CNN.com article, here's a link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/19/health/diabetes-doubles-alzheimers/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6