February 19, 2007
Obesity and Diabetes
| Host: | Ingrid Schlueter |
| Guest: | Jerome Tolbert |
| Listen: | RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD |
Dr. Jerome Tolbert has over 20 years of experience as an expert in the areas of diabetes, internal medicine and endocrinology in New York City.
21 million adults and children have diabetes. 6 million are living with the disease and don't even know it. Another 54 million are considered pre-diabetic. This has resulted in an epidemic where 1 health care dollar out of every 10 goes to treat this disease and its complications.
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, non-traumatic amputations, and in addition, most diabetics die of heart disease.
Type 1 diabetes is not fully understood. It is believed to be an autoimmune problem where antibodies atttack the pancreatic cells so they cannot produce insulin. This usually happens in early childhood. This individual has no insulin to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood and therefore must receive insulin in order to live.
The Type 2 diabetic profile is quite different. These people are usually overweight and older. These individuals do have insulin. The body, however, becomes resistant to it so the pancreas keeps produing insulin. Eventually it can't keep up, blood sugar levels rise and diabetes and its various complications are the result.
Dr. Tobert addresses lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet control that can help people prevent the onset of this widespread disease.
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