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The Life Expectancy of a Diabetic

The sad news according to ScienceDaily in June of 2007, suggests that people who acquired type 2 diabetes in their 50’s do not live as long as other people without diabetes in the same age group. Diabetics also tend to get cardiovascular disease sooner than other cohorts of older people. The authors of the article blame globalization of the western diet to be contributing to factor for diabetes mellitus type 2 diabetes. What this means is that type 2 diabetes is not only a concern in the Western hemisphere, it is a concern around of the globe at this present time.

In the year 2000 there were already over 171 million people across the globe that suffered from diabetes mellitus. Researchers expect the prevalence of diabetes to be twice this figure in only 25 years. Diabetics are gravely at risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks and strokes. Longitudinal studies conducted in both the Netherlands and England substantiated these findings. The team of researchers studied people from the age of 26 to 62 and watched for their diabetic and cardiovascular problems. They were watching for cardiovascular disorders to surface in these diabetic patients. They found that women were more prone to getting cardiovascular disorders than were men. They actually had twice as much chance of developing cardiovascular disease than men. These women who already had cardiovascular disease and diabetes died faster than women who had diabetes without cardiovascular disease. Though men who had diabetes and cardiovascular disease were not as much at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, the diabetic mean still contracted the cardiovascular disease twice as often as non-diabetic men. Their mortality from cardiovascular disease was also twice as much as non-diabetic men.

Comparison in life expectancy with non-diabetic individuals

From this study they concluded that men live on average of 7 and half years longer if they are not diabetic.

Women lived on an average of 8.2 years longer if they were lucky enough not to be diabetic. Seven or eight years may seem like nothing when you’re a young person with diabetes, however, when you reach your 50’s, it starts to get scary. However this scare can completely be avoided if you prevent yourself from contracting type 2 diabetes.

Prevention Tips

Diabetes Mellitus has been associated with obesity. So the best way to avoid diabetes mellitus is to watch your weight. You must eat a healthy diet rich in good carbohydrates, not refined carbohydrates such as grains land rice which is white, Go brown; brown pasta, brown rich, brown bread. Eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. You need to stay away from fried foods and sugars, which are empty calories. Drink a lot of water and stay away from the cola. If you are craving sweets, choose a healthy fruit over a donut or piece of cake.

You need to cut down on red meats, which are associated with heart disease and replace red meats with tofu, which can take the flavor of meats. Tofu meatballs do not ruin your scrumptious spaghetti sauce at all, and after a while you will no longer notice the different. Replace hamburgers with chicken burgers or better still tofu burgers.

You need to get away from the computer and couch and go out and exercise and keep your heart healthy. This way you can avoid getting diabetes in the first place.

Once you have diabetes Mellitus.

Once you have diabetes mellitus take it seriously, do not think that just because your doctor has put you on medication your work is done. You need to keep up on your meds and you need to watch your weight and to continue eating healthy. A diabetic diet is not scary it is basically the same diet mentioned above. This diet is a universal diet that is good for everyone. You still need to exercise even though you probably feel tired all the time. By exercising you will probably feel better and have more energy in the long run.

Keep your blood sugar levels down and you will have the chance to live longer and be healthier in the long run.

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