Diabetes Epidemic Threatens Health Care System

Cardiovascular disease, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease are all very expensive conditions to treat in our technologically sophisticated health care system. These conditions already occupy some of the top slots when it comes to where our health care dollar are spent. So imagine what is going to happen now that the rates of diabetes have doubled (with no end in sight).

So, this epidemic of diabetes and pre-diabetes is not just a health care issue that burdens individuals and their families living with the disease. It is a looming societal problem that threatens to bankrupt our already fragile health care system. It could cause health care insurance premiums to escalate even further, impacting not only employers who provide coverage, but also public payors, like Medicaid and Medicare.

An article published in the New York Times January 31, 2007 by Richard Pérez-Peña declares, "One in Eight Adults in the City Has Diabetes, a Study Finds". That is 12.5% of the population or 700,000 people. Lest you feel relieved that you don't live there, let me remind you that the rest of the country is not all that far behind. Overall, about 10.3% of Americans have diabetes and about a quarter of them don't know it (yet).

An additional 24% of adults in NY (and in the rest of the country) have abnormally high blood sugars that have not yet reached diabetic levels. This condition is known as pre-diabetes.

Not too many years ago, the diabetes rate was 6%. But our self-indulgent ways have caught up with us. Too little exercise, too many calories plus too much stress adds up to an epidemic of obesity, particularly abdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity, especially visceral obesity, is linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes in genetically predisposed individuals.

It's just a "touch of sugar." Why all the concern? Because diabetes and it precursor, pre-diabetes, are the most familiar manifestations of a constellation of metabolic changes, known as cardiometabolic syndrome. Other manifestations of this syndrome are high blood pressure, dyslipidemia ((high triglycerides) and low HDL ("good") cholesterol)), clotting abnormalities, and problems with inflammation. People with cardiometabolic syndrome, even if they haven't yet developed full-blown diabetes, have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It is time to get deadly serious about doing something about prevention. We need to rapidly move to institutionalize regular exercise programs in school and at work. And we need affordable, easily accessible healthy eating options. That means we must be willing to regulate, legislate, and maybe even implement taxes (oh, oh, the tax word!) that can get us to where we need to be. Failure to do something now will almost certainly result in huge adverse financial consequences that will ripple through society in the not too distant future.

Loose Teeth

Gum disease can cause damage to the underlying bone structure that supports your gums and holds your teeth in place. This bone is relatively vulnerable and can be damaged by the effects of bacterial infection.

Some individuals like to state that only people in their thirties and forties develop gum disease. Let's think about that for a minute. Where did that gum disease come from? Didn't it develop over a the last ten, twenty or thirty years? Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and has been detected in people of all ages.

When a bacterial infection occurs under the gumline, the supporting structure is attacked by the byproducts secreted from the bacteria. Once this structure is eroded you might also notice that the gums have receded. Again, this didn't happen overnight.

One key to avoiding gum disease is to realize that chances are pretty high that you will develop it if you don't already have it. By creating good habits while in your teens or twenties, you can prevent the onset of gum disease later in life. You'll be able to keep your teeth when others lose theirs.

Once the supporting bone structure is compromised the teeth may become loose depending on how bad the damage is. At some point the supporting structure may not be strong enough to support the tooth at all and then it is over. The tooth is lost.

As an adult there is no replacement tooth unless you count dentures or implants. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss. Every person on the planet, except for the rare 2 percent who are gum disease resistant, needs to worry about this problem. Make a plan to prevent or combat it and execute that plan on a daily basis.

Starting early is the key to prevention. However, if you failed to start early, you can begin to take steps to prevent your situation from becoming worse. If you fail to take any action, there are still options. But, you may not like those options.

I remember that an older man at a recent gathering said, "there is no substitute for your own teeth". Replacements are poor substitutes for the real thing. I do not believe that most people are too lazy to take care of their teeth. Instead, I believe that they don't understand what will happen if they don't. How many people understand that most of the adult population is afflicted by some stage of gum disease? Most go through their daily lives blind to what is happening just inside their own mouths.

Some people make a distinction between gingivitis and gum disease. One is just the beginning of the other. If you are in your twenties or teens and have been told you have gingivitis, now is the time to become diligent about oral care. Today's gingivitis can develop into tomorrow's periodontal disease. It is just a matter of degree.

Unfortunately, the public is woefully ignorant of gum disease, what it is and what it can do to you as an individual. Again, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss. The Mayo Clinics website quips that perhaps up to 80% of the adult population in America has gum disease. Many Americans are fanatical about taking care of their smiles. Yet, so many still develop this disease. You can almost bet the statistics are higher outside of the United States.

You owe it to yourself to find out everything you can to prevent gum disease or fight it once you become aware of it. Ask your dentist about the health of your gums every time you go for a checkup. If you have bleeding during your normal cleaning, you should be aware this is not normal. Even if you bleed a little bit it could very well indicate that you have gingivitis or gum disease.

In addition to the health of your gums, the overall health of your body should also be considered. It is arguably the most important aspect of your life. I have found the exercises of Falun Gong to be very valuable in maintaining health. You can read more about them on the FalunDafa.org website.

If you have or think you might have gum disease, contact your dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

Home Toxicity - There May Be Something Your Doctor Isn't Telling You

How many of these diseases and health conditions do you suffer from?

Cancer, asthma, bronchitis, acute toxicity, food poisoning, headaches, Eye irritations, Dizziness, Depression, Fatigue, Sinus Infections, Flu, Skin irritations

This list is small. However, if you are suffering from any of these, it could be all starting from home.

What your Doctor probably hasn't thought of, while doing a checkup on you, is that Indoor air pollution and other chemical warfare that happens in the home, is 2-5 times higher than outdoors. Think about it.

There are things that occur in air-tight buildings:

Mold is undetectable behind wallpaper and paneling in basements, ductwork, etc.

Formaldehyde is a gas that is emitted from furniture glue, paneling, and carpeting.

And if this was not enough, there are also environmental concerns. More than 9 out of 10 suspected poison exposures occur at with household products.

Personal Care products are just as harmful. It seems harmless, but the effects show their colors after time. You can't just drop it at moment you notice the symptoms. Lipsticks, Baby Oil, Eyeliner and Soaps -- many of which contain a chemical called butylate hyroxtoleune, which is known to cause cancer in animals and is suspected to cause birth defects.

Then there's Shampoo, Mouthwashes, Toothpaste. Many brands contain formaldehyde although there are several names they may hide it under. Fluoride, which is supposed to be a help in toothpaste, can greatly screw up the thyroid. I myself am a singer, and I try as much as possible to avoid this. Because the Thyroid is so close to the vocal box that if it were to enlarge, it would push against the vocal cords.

Chlorine is another strange chemical. It's supposed to help us but the irony is that it can also harm us. Chlorine gas was used in the 2nd world war as a chemical weapon to harm the air sacks of opposing soldier's lungs. Our bathroom and kitchen faucets bring water that already has chlorine in them. Imagine this going through your bloodstream!

On top of this, all of these chemicals are being disposed into our soils and return back to the water. Our city filtration facilities can only handle so much contaminants. Some of the airbourne pollution caused by household cleaners can also greatly harm our skies (these actually do make their way up!) and can contribute to Global Warming.

There are ways you can reduce the level of toxicity in your home. Let's start with the water. Most local health food stores carry apparatuses that you can install into your shower heads, which filter the chlorine and keeps your water a level safer.

Switch brands of soap, toilet bowl cleaners (very dangerous, I'll mention this in future articles), toothpaste with more natural ones. It's important to check that the natural and healthier alternatives do not contain one ounce of contaminant. This includes ammonia, which is found in some window cleaners (a dangerous and gaseous chemical.)

The cleaners that you are going to use must be biodegradable within a week, not 100 years (as some cleaners do.) Do your due diligence and research to the component level, not based on what is printed!

Some non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaners are not concentrated. Meaning that if you were to use these up, you would have to chuck them out and buy more again within 4 months. It should last you a long time and is economically sound.

Another good rule of thumb is to see if they make the good list of organizations such as PETA (People for ethical treatment of animals), Greenpeace or Earth Day committees.

If you're looking for more information on recommended brands of non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaners, feel free to visit my website on the link below. And start making your home a healthy and safe place to live!