What are your thoughts about why such a large % of us are now diabetic?

We should be looking at all the GMO food we eat, especially the amount we don't realize we are eating. GMO food is doing things to our bodies that are extremely harmful.

I posted an article on GMO foods a couple of weeks ago. You might also want to take a look at it. My intro is garbled — somehow my corrections and the first draft both ended up in it — so skip my part, but take a look at the article via the link.

Howdy ztalsi, WELCOME to DiabeticConnect!

I think you'll find that you're "preaching to the choir" on that one! Many of us have come to the same conclusion

James

Can't help wishing the choir would get bigger or louder or more influential!

I was just referring to regulars on DC, not the world at large. I also share your wish about the world at large.

Thanks. The world at large is effecting us perhaps more than themselves since we seem to be the folks whose bodies have responded first … a few more generations without cleaning this up though and it will effect many, many more.

If it even CAN be cleaned up at this point.

May loose the war, but still want to try.

Good question and since you already mentioned the reasons, I don't know what else to add. Could it be chemicals on or in foods? I would imagine the drs and drug companies don't want us to figure that out and hurt their checkbooks. I also didn't know about the other countries, so maybe it is diet and exercise for type 2 since we know how high that number is, but I don't know how to put type 1 in there.

One other possibility is stress which affects our carbohydrate metabolism. It could be a trigger for type 1 or type 2 development of diabetes. Life has never been without stresses, but we used to have less disconnect between cause and effect so we felt more in control and, consequently, less stressed.

But, it your type 1/2 observation: if you come from an environmental position acknowledging the changes in our world that have resulted from changes in our industry, farming, and other spheres of endeavor, that has an impact on everyone's genetics, whether type 1 or type 2, which means it could affect all of us.

I really don't see it as a conspiracy. We got enthused with change and seeing what we could create. We were abysmally ignorant (not uncaring, just unknowing) about the changes we were creating in our world and how those changes would impact us. Sure individual companies have tried to hide the damage they caused and that wasn't ethical, but now we all know to be better on guard and protect ourselves and our children from these dangers.

our Technological ability outstipped our ability to know whether or not we should engage in using the technology. That seems to me like a nearly fatal shortcoming in the human psyche.

A not so subtle reminder to our God like psychies that we really aren't.

agreed!

I just ran into an article that addresses this very subject. Is it the phenol BPA found in plastics? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/bpa-...

Interesting article. I understand that I may be biased, but this quote made me laugh out loud:

"The chemical industry disagrees. "BPA is one of the most thoroughly tested chemicals used today and has a safety track record of 50 years," says Kathryn Murray St. John, a spokesperson for the American Chemistry Council, a lobbying group for the plastics industry. She highlights recent regulatory rulings in favor of the safety of BPA."

We've seen similar denials from various manufacturers and others along the "supply chain." This is why products liability litigation will continue to thrive. The human cost, of course, is far greater than any monetary sum for the damages caused by these and similar products.

I imagine many things are involved here as we seem to have created a rather toxic environment for ourselves. BPA is undoubted a part of it! I no longer use plastic storage containers for food for this reason; am also careful about water bottles and usually use stainless or glass.

It makes you wander what to be afraid of next, but you cannot go around fearing everything in the environment. This issue is not decided yet but I don't think we can take the word of lobbyist for the plastics industry. I too am using glass instead of plastic for food storage and worm up in the microwave.

Oh, you are right, Dan. Can't live in fear, just exercise caution while living a full life.

In a word, "Genetics."

Many people genetically are prone to become diabetic (type 2), it's in our DNA.
Something in our environment (life, lifestyle) acts as a "trigger" and activates it thereby causing us to become diabetic, that trigger can be virtually anything!

Many believe that triggers only apply to type 1 diabetics but that is not true, most triggers for type 2 prone people are "risk factors" that are unkowingly put into place and because it takes years for it to develope and is normally silent (such as insulin resistance) it goes unnoticed.

http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes-causes

A "conspiracy theory" may sound good, but all it does is to take the blame from one's shoulder and place it one someone else's!

~Mays~

Interesting observation, Mays, but I've never heard of a conspiracy theory w/r/t diabetes. Are you perhaps referring to environmental factors? If so, no conspiracy implied, just all the ignorance that occurs when we move into the brave new world and have to learn as we go. When the industrial revolution occurred, people benefited greatly from the inventions and made a mess of quite a number of towns and lives in the process. I'd see it as a learning curve w/r/t the last 50 years of radical change, in the same way that we are creating new and wonderful inventions, we are also creating new and unknown consequences in our lives.

Conspiracy Theory:
Many people believe that the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry has a great deal to do with chemicals and additives that are being added into our lives and thereby causing us to get sick (diabetes) but I disagree.

I believe that it's easier to blame someone, complain about what should be done that isn't being done, and to simply do nothing on one's behalf than it is to actually do something.
As humans we are always looking for a better way to do things but sometimes the word "easier" seems to replace the word "better."

It's easier to blame, than to accept being blamed!

Dedicating time to managing our illness seems more productive (imo) than trying to untangle the strings of possible reasons why so many people are now being diagnosed with diabetes.

It's been proven that environmental factors in one's life and lifestyle contributes to one's health issues (good, or bad) that is the area that we have the greatest control.
It takes us to be honest with ourselves and to do what is in our best interest, if not we will continue to fuel the controversy as to who, what, where and why has caused our distress.

As I stated, this is just my personal opinion.
~Mays~

Thanks for the clarification. I had not heard that explanation in the context of a causitive factor, just w/r/t suppression of cures.

I think I'd agree with most of your position. The most productive position for any of us to take w/r/t our own diabetes is to take responsibility for it and do whatever we have to manage it. That improves our lives. It is easier to blame and, when it is blame used to escape responsibility, it is futile. For ourselves, whether it was big Pharm or our ignorance or some combination of both, WE do have the choice of taking responsibility for who/where we are now and taking care of ourselves. If we don't, we face severe disease or early death.

When you say "It's been proven that environmental factors in one's life and lifestyle contributes to one's health issues (good or bad) that is the area where we have the greatest control" I agree. I would just suggest that we need to take it a step further and apply this to our community, state, country, and beyond. This is the reason to look for cause: both what do I need to change in my life AND what can I help to change in my community?

Maybe, I am opting for a broader sense of responsibility than you are advocating because I am saying (as I believe you are) that I have to take responsibility for my diabetes today, but I am ALSO saying that I need to do what I can to not leave the world in a worse place than it was when I entered it.

I am guessing as to what mays means when he says "conspiricy theoies" but my best guess would be that there was a time on DC when people were posting more about suppressed cures for diabetes, like the "Nigerian cure" which supposedly were purchased by big Pharma cos and they of course "sat" on it because they were making too much money with their drugs which just treated some of the symptoms. (every time I tried to track the story to its source I found a dead end — some ppl claim the dead end is because of big Pharma killed the story as well.) I myself doubt that theory but there are those who hold various theories of cures which have been quashed by big Pharma.

Could be … I did miss the time when there was a lot said about quashed cures though I have heard that w/r/t other illnesses.

I am type 2. Diagnosed in 95. About age 40. Had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides at the time for about 10 years. My doctor did not talk to me about the affects of these things on other parts of my body. I was also under tremendous stress with no relief (I thought) and had bad insomnia and migraianes. As a little child, my family was poor so nutritious meals were out. We never went hungry, but beans and cornbread on a daily basis (and that was all) is not nutritious. We didn't even have the 10 cents a day for school lunches. However, my Dad smoked 4 packs of cigerettes a day. If he had given up one pack a day, we oculd have had meat and veggies. So, I think it is the choices we make about what is important that affects us most. I could have eaten better as a young adult and adult, and exercised, and looked up things for myself if my doctor did not inform me. I should have found stress relief. So, all you guys out there, take care of yourself, because no one else will. And take care of your families by cooking right, in proper proportions, exercising (fun stuff) with them, and having your priorities right for them and you.

Priorities, choices, and knowledge are so important. Hindsight shows us much any of us could have changed that might have improved our health today. Like you, my wish would be that we could teach our children and grandchildren to take better care of themselves so they won't find themselves looking back and saying, "Oh, I wish I had understood that and made better/healthier choices" when it is already to far into the disease process to make much difference for them.

I also am T2 and Dx'd in 95. (I am 60 now)

I hear you loud and clear about the priorities! But IMO if you don't have the genetic predisposition for any kind of Diabetes (DM) you wouldn't have it no matter HOW badly or well you ate as a child or young adult.

Blessings to you and yours

James

Don't know about that, James. I have NO family members with diabetes and don't know of any in the family tree which has been traced back to the early colonists. I didn't get here because of my genetics.

Jay, I think we tend to put too much emphasis on the genetic component. Obviously with T1 there is a larger genetic component but there is still other components that likely come into play. The genetic component probably exist on a continuum from low to high. It is not an all or none influence.

That's OK I was married twice, so I am used to be contradicted Dan LoL!

And we can agree to disagree. I have to run to the lab to get tests for my Kidney Dr so I may revisit this with you when I get back.

Hopefully this can remain a discussion group and not a competition on who is right.

Should be able to discuss anything, Dan, because, among other reasons, there is probably no one correct answer, but a multiplicity of factors with different triggering events for each of us.

I'm back!

I have been on this site for over 3 yrs, Dan, and have disagreed with others before on this and other issues . I have not been able to get those folks to agree with me every time, but parted as friends who agreed to disagree.

I misread your last sentence in the posting before your latest here and re-reading that sentence I agree with you that "It is not an all or none influence." But I might place the importance of this factor a little higher than you might.

Given that we agree that it is not an all or nothing influence the next question is where do you choose to place the emphasis. Placing the emphasis on genetics is to surrender to victimhood. It is true, we are all victims to some degree at some time in our life, but when we settle on that fact, we have little reason to make the situation better or to take responsibility for the outcome. That is the reason I choose to de-emphasize the genetic component.

Best to you. There is no harm in disagreement.

I agree that there is no harm in disagreement. In fact if everyone agreed all the time there would be no reason to grow and learn.

In my analysis I start with the fact that diabetes is a malfunction of the autoimmune system. Instead of attacking foreign substances the immune system attacks its own. Then, why does it malfunction. There is not likely a single answer to this question — many things come into play. A few years ago it was found that ulcers were caused by a virus but that same virus exists is common in the guts of people without ulcers. So it was deduced that stress weakens the immune system and that allows the virus to multiply. I suspect the same is true of diabetes — stress, from many sources, weaken our immune system and throws our endocrine system out of kilter. When the endocrine system is over taxed it puts stress on the immune system and the body looses its integrity to respond appropriately to outside threats. The common factor in all of this is stress.

I agree with all of this…there are people that get diabetes and have none in their family tree…I honestly think a lot of it is stress. Of course, I believe genetics is #1 in this disease, but no doubt there are a serious combination of factors. I knew of a couple of people in my past who drank so much alcohol that they developed serious diabetes from that in itself. One of them told me he , because of his battle with alcoholism, destroyed many of his beta cells . I suspect highly that stress is one of the major reasons more people are getting diabetes worldwide now. ANNE

Very complete and thought provoking response, Dan. I have read recently that the autoimmune system is implicated in T2 also, though not in the same way as with T1 which seems more a genetic glitch whereas in T2 it seems to be more stress or environmentally related triggers.

Interestingly, my doctor and I just had a discussion about the role of stress in carbohydrate metabolism and the triggering of T2.

That's very interesting. I wonder if one day in the far future they will discover why the autoimmune system attacks the beta cells when it does. ANNE

Good well be, Anne. Perhaps that will lead to more people remaining free of D!

Thanks for your response Dan.

It seems that your answer has much merit. Your first sentence seems more appropriate for T1s than for T2s Your Third sentence is "spot on" IMO.

Read the book, "Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It" by Gary Taubes. The answer to your question is in that book. I have nothing to do with Mr. Taubes except that his books are terrific!

so may I infer from your post here that you think the reason so many of us have diabetes is because we are FAT?

The better the food is for you the more it costs.The cheaper foods fill you up more. I'd love to see what the break down of diabetics are compared to income. I would bet there is a big difference.

you MAY be right Keith, or there might be other factors at work here too. Diabetes used to be prevalent mainly in the "first world" since T2 was thought of as a "rich man's disease" and the "3rd world" native ways of eating kept T2 at bay. Now T2 is epidemic among 3rd world peoples.

It is a complex issue by which bigger minds than mine have been stumped!

EDIT: I just received this in my yahoo inbox from DC which may explain my views here ~
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/news-articles/...

I am beginning to think there is something in our modern day foods , as in chemicals, that is accelerating type 2 diabetes. I wonder if it's a change in farming, genetic engineering…seriously. Also, I am seriously thinking more people were already type 2 for years, and just did not know it, and with modern day technology and testing, more happens to be found. It sounds like a complete mess to me—I'm positive myself that it's: genetic, our modern day lifestyle combined with genetics, chemicals in modern day foods, and stress..the order I listed, except for genetics, is not what I believe to be in consecutive order. For example, people that don't have diabetes in their genes, I wonder if they caught a super super bad virus at some point in their lives, and their body's resistance happened to be way down for whatever reason(s). Then, their pancreas was not ready to handle the big stress of the superbug. Then, the huge huge huge virus attacks their beta cells, and they become diabetic. In a way, that sounds very simple and makes a lot of sense. However, what about regular type 2 diabetes? It is beyond me as to why the body would turn away insulin that is already produced. It's probably because there are parts missing inside the pancreas, and maybe when the fetus was inside the mother's body, the baby's pancreas for a combination of reasons didn't develop fully, so, later on when the baby is maybe 30 years old, develops type 2 diabetes, or already had it inside the womb. ANNE

Yes there are a lot of factors to consider, Anne.

Farming has changed even in the years since I grew up on the farm. Genetically Modified crops (GMOs, O = "organisms") are grown with DNA from other plants or animals to increase yields and promote disease resistance or to tolerate certain weedkillers. That is only ONE of many ways farming has changed in the 40 years since I was living on the farm. There is the depletion of the soil of necessary nutrients going on too.

Then there is the toxic enviromnent in which we now live. We get drugs or other substances that water treatment plants do not remove from tap water. People dump unused meds into the toilet and flush or the remains of metabolized meds are excreted in our urine or feces and go to the waste treatment plant which is ill equipped to adequately treat the water to remove these substances.

The child in the womb may well develop diabetes due to environmental triggers which trip the genetic switch to "on" for diabetes of any type.

I could go on and on about this but I would get depressed over it all.

Sometimes I think that the only way out of this mess is for the Lord Jesus return to this earth and end this world and take His children with Him to heaven.

Yeah, I was just thinking the exact same thing last night after I logged off of here. Sometimes I too think the only way out of this mess is if Jesus returned to the earth. ANNE

Good thought, James. I'd like to add a footnote: diabetes is now epidemic among 3rd world peoples whose food sources and preparation have been influenced by the folks of the 1st and 2nd world. It's not rampant among groups who maintain native food chains, though admittedly there aren't many of those left.

Economics plays a major roll. It is cheaper to feed a family of four when you purchase the cheaper cuts of meat, frozen foods or canned goods as opposed to buying ingredients to make the meal from scratch.

I live in a community with mixed incomes. I am currently receiving food stamps. I still buy foods the way I did when I was working. I do not shop at the local supermarket unless I run out of something. I have gone in the market and watched how low income mothers shop. One cart is filled with cases of cups of noodles, cereal and milk, cookies, soda and chips. The other cart has hot dogs, two or three packs of chicken and canned goods that can be purchased 10 for $10.00. I think that Social Services should provide a service to teach these mothers how to eat healthy.

When I go to supermarkets outside of my community in more affluent neighborhoods I don't see this. I think the wealthier you are the better eating habits people have. I could be wrong.

I have often wondered the same thing, Joyce, but I know it's not a one-one relationship. I grew up below the poverty line in a family that valued good education and healthy food. I went through University and Teacher's Certification on scholarships because of scholarship but also because of qualifying on low income. I still learned how to eat well. They don't have to go hand in hand, but two things have to happen.

People who are not eating well have to be open to learning to eat better and the training has to be made available cause they surely aren't learning it at home.

It is also true that many of our highly processed "foods" which are VERY high carb are also very cheap.

People do not want to learn to eat healthy or to change eating habits until a disease occurs. I didn't however, I did not eat fast food and I still only eat it if I am out and want something fast. It is the worse food to put in your mouth.

Afraid you are correct. We think the rules don't really apply or the information isn't accurate until hit over the head with proof in the form of a food bases disease.

It's caused by the eating of edible food like substances instead of real food. Our convenience lifestyle is killing us slowly. I never really ate fast food much but did start eating in medium to high quality restaurants but even there the food was kind of high in carbs. They are cheaper.

We could begin to just eat food and forget to buy/eat the "foodlike" substances. Who wants to eat a substance??? Yuck.

Processed food, advertising and a sedentary lifestyle.

They do all contribute and it begins to add up.

Wonder how we change this?

Not much we can to about advertising. We can create healthy habits regarding food and exercise. The question is how do we educate those at risk without lecturing or controlling?

That is easy Roberto, you drag in a room kicking and screaming and force it on them…LOL Unfortunately people don't listen until it is too late. People are too lazy to deal with healthy foods because advertising tells us we can put a meal on the table in 30 mins or less by stopping at a fast food restaurant or picking up the phone and calling for dinner to be delivered.

I can put a healthy meal on the table in 20-30 minutes. Healthy doesn't have to take a long time.

I think the idea that cooking is a chore contributes. My mother used to sing while she cooked. I guess that is why I picked it up. Most meals are easy, quick and more convenient (did I forget to mention that they taste better?) than fast food. And special meals that take more time and effort to prepare are also more fun to make. Not to mention that it gives you the chance to be creative and experiment. The only bad thing is that I hate washing dishes. lol シ

I agree Roberto. Also, I don't shy away from elaborate recipes either. I like taking on the challenge. And when it is a successful outcome (not to brag but it's more often than not), it's a real confidence booster for me. Drives me to do it again.

I know you aren't just bragging. Sometimes I prepare meals just for me because everyone else think I use strange ingredients like Quinoa. When they taste it there go my leftovers.

Quinoa is good, but most people don't know about it. Teff is another tasty grain we don't learn about here. It's Ethiopian in origin.

I have some Teff recipes that I haven't tried yet.

As you try them out, would you be willing to share. I'm just starting to use it.

Yes I will.

Thanks.

You cook, she cleans — seems like an equitable sharing of chores. Unless you are doing the food and she is doing the kids, or some other, larger distribution.

My daughter is 35 and doesn't live at home. My wife does most of the chores.

Wayne and I used to share chores until he became to sick.

It sure helps the relationship.

Sure does! We had a wonderful one that is now being lost in a fog of Alzheimer's but he remains an "old sweetie" which is wonderful since many don't.

It can be hard. I lost my wife to brain trauma for awhile. Thank God she came back they told me it wasn't possible.

Aren't you glad miracles still happen! That is wonderful!!