November 14, 2002

Prairie Fare: November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

By Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and Nutrition Specialist
NDSU Extension Service

Could you be among the estimated 17 million people with diabetes in the United States? If you have diabetes, how would you know?

Some of the most common warning signs of diabetes include frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unexpected weight loss, feeling tired or irritable, having cuts or bruises that heal slowly, blurred vision and tingling or numbness in the hands and toes.

If you note these symptoms, it’s time to check in with your physician. Soon. Even without symptoms, health professionals recommend that people 45 and older have their blood glucose levels checked every three years to detect any abnormalities that could indicate the onset of diabetes.

The number of diagnosed cases of diabetes grew by 49 percent in during the 1990s according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes now ranks as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and costs an estimated $100 billion a year in indirect and direct costs.

About one in five people over age 65 has diabetes. If your parents or siblings have diabetes, you’re more likely to get it.

Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose (a form of sugar) to enter cells and be used for energy. Without insulin, glucose can build up in the blood stream and damage tissues throughout the body. If uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart attack, strokes, kidney failure and amputations.

There are three types of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is associated with up to 5 percent of pregnancies, most often appearing between weeks 24 and 32. It sometimes goes away after the baby is born. While many cases can be controlled by diet and exercise, sometimes insulin is required to maintain normal blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetes commonly occurs in children or young adults and usually is treated with insulin and a special diet. About 90 percent of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes, which commonly occurs in adults. Recently, however, more children are showing symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to the growing rate of obesity among children. Type 2 diabetes often is managed by diet, exercise and oral medication but sometimes insulin injections are needed.

Heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and foot amputations are some of the serious complications of uncontrolled diabetes. A registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator can help people with diabetes plan meals and physical activity to help prevent complications. More information about diabetes is available from the American Diabetes Association Web site www.diabetes.org/

Here’s a tasty recipe to pair with a mixed green salad and fresh fruit:

Two Cheese Pizza

Whole wheat flour
1 10-oz. can refrigerated pizza crust
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. low-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 c. chopped mushrooms
1 red or green pepper, cut into strips

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spread whole wheat flour over working surface. Roll out dough with rolling pin to desired crust thickness. Coat cookie sheet with cooking spray. Transfer pizza crust to cookie sheet. Brush olive oil over crust. Mix ricotta cheese with dried basil, onion, garlic and salt; spread this mixture over crust. Sprinkle crust with mozzarella cheese. Top cheese with mushrooms and red or green pepper. Bake at 425 degrees for 13-15 minutes until cheese melts and crust is golden brown. Cut into 8 slices.

Makes 4 servings. Each serving contains 351 calories, 34 grams carbohydrate, 18 grams protein and 16 grams fat.

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Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu