Q: I have been a long-time reader of your column and enjoy it very much.
I was just informed by my doctor that I have type II diabetes. Due to spinal stenosis, I have difficulty walking any distance and I need to lose weight. Can you get me on the right track to both control my diabetes and drop a few pounds?
A: Type II diabetes is a disease in which high levels of sugar known as glucose are in the blood. The disorder is the result of the way in which your body uses insulin. Liver, fat and muscle cells respond incorrectly and blood sugar cannot reach the cells where it would ordinarily be stored for energy. When this occurs, sugar builds up in the blood in a condition known as hyperglycemia. The condition occurs over an extended period of time and while it can occur in those individuals that are thin and elderly, most cases involve people who are overweight or obese, which makes it more difficult for the body to use insulin as it should.
[Read more...]