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Diabetes

What is diabetes?

• Diabetes affects the body's ability to use blood sugar for energy.

• The main types include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

• Diabetes symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, and fatigue.

Eye ComplicationsKeep your risk of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye problems low with regular

checkups. Foot ComplicationsLearn about neuropathy (which can cause numbness in the feet) as well as other

complications. Skin ComplicationsStay alert for symptoms of skin infections and other skin disorders common in people

with diabetes.High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)High blood pressure—also called hypertension—raises your risk for heart attack,

stroke, eye problems, and kidney disease. Diabetes and Hearing LossDiabetes and hearing loss are two of America's most widespread health concerns.

Diabetes and Oral Health ProblemsResearch shows that there is an increased prevalence of gum disease among those

with diabetes.

• Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)• Nerve damage from diabetes called diabetic neuropathy can

lead to many kinds of problems.• Kidney Disease (Nephropathy)• Keep your diabetes and blood pressure under control to

lower the chance of getting kidney disease. • Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)• Talk to your doctor if you have mild leg pain, troubling

walking, tingling in the legs, or other symptoms of PAD.• Stroke• Maintain target levels for blood glucose, blood pressure, and

cholesterol to reduce your risk of stroke. • Stress• Relax! Making lifestyle changes can help reduce mental stress

and manage your blood glucose levels.

Decreasing soda and sweetened beverage consumption is one of THE MOST promising strategies for preventing obesity.

(U.C. Berkeley Center for Weight and Health, 2003)

One 20 oz soda = 17 teaspoons of sugar and 250

calories

Instead of sugar most soft drinks have high fructose

corn syrup in them. One 20 oz soda can= 5

ounces of high fructose corn syrup

Weight Gain

• To burn off one 20-ounce soda with 240 calories, you would need to walk for 1 hour all because of the empty calories from the added sugar.

Weight Gain (cont.)

• A 64 oz soda bottle has approx 720 calories and 15 oz of high fructose corn syrup in it (almost 2 cups).

• To burn off the calories you would need to – run for more than 2 hours or– walk for 4 hours or– scrub floors for 4 hours

1)High Fructose Corn Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup, now used in preference to sugar, is associated with poor development of collagen in growing animals. All fructose must be metabolized by the liver. Animals on high-fructose diets develop liver problems similar to those of alcoholics.

Soda Additives

1) High Fructose Corn Syrup2) Aspartame3) Caffeine4) Phosphoric Acid

Soda Additives (cont.)2) Aspartame

Aspartame, used in diet sodas, is a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disrupter. It is considered carcinogenic in lab animals.

A brief history of this substance begins with a 1980 FDA Board of Inquiry confirming that aspartame “might induce brain tumors.” The FDA actually banned aspartame based on this finding but fortunately for Monsanto which purchased the patent in 1985, then Searle Chairman Donald Rumsfeld vowed to get it approved.

The FDA panel upheld the ban in a 3 - 2 decision, but FDA commissioner, Arthur Hayes Hull, Jr. appointed a sixth person to the panel creating a deadlock, Hull then stepped in to break the tie in favor of approval. Hull was later rewarded by Monsanto with a contract to perform duties as chief public relations.

Hull has never spoken publicly about aspartame.

Soda Additives (cont.)3) Caffeine

Caffeine stimulates the adrenal gland without providing nourishment. In large amounts, caffeine can lead to adrenal exhaustion and behavior changes, especially in children.When children age six to 12 stop consuming caffeine, they suffer withdrawal symptoms that impair their attention span and performance.

It takes only about 100 milligrams of caffeine per day to get hooked.

Soda Additives (cont.)4) Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid, added to give soft drinks "bite," is associated with calcium loss and osteoporosis. Phosphates (phosphoric acid) in soft drinks leach calcium from bones.

Functions of water in the body

How can we lead a healthier, low-sugar lifestyle?

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks Water is best and has absolutely no sugar. Replace at least one sugary drink with water every day. You can flavor water with slices of orange, lemon, melon, cucumber, or sprigs of mint and rosemary for zero calories and lots of flavor.

• Limit added sugar It is best to eat fresh, whole foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables since fiber, only found in plant foods, helps stabilize your blood sugar levels. Stay away from processed and packaged foods. Read the Nutrition Facts labels of packages to find out how much sugar is in it.

• Get physical activity every dayKids 60 minutes a day, adults 30 to 60 minutes a day

Additional Resources

• Video Sugar: The Bitter TruthRobert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology explores the damage caused by sugary foods. UCSF Series 7/2009 Health and Medicine Show ID: 16717

• The video King Corn explores government subsidies in the growing of corn and what they have done to our food supply especially soda consumption, use of high fructose corn syrup in processed foods, and feeding of corn in commercial meat production.

• Video Sweet Misery - A compelling documentary that exposes the real dangers of aspartame and how it became FDA approved