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Health Options
Alan Titchenal |
Walk honors DJ Wili Moku
Mark March 20 on your calendar, and start getting ready for the Fifth Annual Hawaii's Walk for Diabetes. The 2.3-mile walk takes place at Kapiolani Park beginning at 8 a.m. Pre-registration deadline is March 12. Registration forms are available at Bank of Hawaii offices on Oahu, Chevron stations, Star Markets and online at www.diabetes.org/walk.
The theme this year is "Walk for Wili," to honor the memory of deejay Wili Moku, who died in January due to complications from diabetes. Moku often used himself as an example to encourage others to take care of their health and prevent the development of diabetes.
Question: Why?
Answer: There are at least four great reasons:
>> Help more than 100,000 people in Hawaii who have diabetes.
>> Get information about diabetes for you and your loved ones.
>> Help prevent diabetes and find a cure. Not only will you take steps to prevent diabetes in yourself by getting some good exercise, you can also raise money for research.
>> Have some fun on a Saturday morning.
Q: What is diabetes?
A: Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar (glucose) rises to excessive levels because the body's cells fail to remove glucose from the blood.
In Type 1 diabetes, cells fail to take up glucose due to a lack of insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more common. It tends to sneak up on people and occurs when body cells gradually lose their normal response to insulin. Consequently, after a meal, blood glucose levels go higher and stay elevated longer than normal. In the early stages there are few if any symptoms, but elevated glucose steadily takes a toll that can lead to damaged blood vessels and nerves that cause serious problems with the eyes, kidneys, heart and other parts of the body.
Q: What increases the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes?
A: Three key risk factors are a family history of diabetes, being overweight and over 45 years of age. The American Diabetes Association offers an online questionnaire to help people assess their risk. Find it at www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp.
The only way to know if a person is developing diabetes is to have the appropriate blood-glucose tests. When blood-sugar levels are higher than normal but still lower than the cutoff for diabetes, a physician will diagnose pre-diabetes. This should be a wake-up call to start taking care of yourself to prevent diabetes and the serious complications that can develop.
If you think you have diabetes, see a physician. A good proactive follow-up would be to meet with a Certified Diabetes Educator who can help you to develop an appropriate diet and exercise plan.
March 12 is another date to mark on your calendar. Dan Cooke, of KRATER 96, and other Cox Radio personalities will be joined by comedian Bo Irvine at the downtown Bank of Hawaii plaza (corner of Bishop and King streets) at noon for a Walk for Diabetes kickoff event.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Alan Titchenal, Ph.D., C.N.S. and Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S. are nutritionists in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH-Manoa. Dr. Dobbs also works with the University Health Services and prepares the nutritional analyses marked with an asterisk in this section.