April 7, 2006, Newsletter Issue #48: Dietary Fat and Diabetes

Tip of the Week

Everyone knows the word "cholesterol" and we also know that it is supposed to be "bad" for us, but not enough people know why.

For the non-diabetic person, cholesterol contributes to fatty plaques that can form inside the blood vessels. This causes narrowing of the blood vessels, resulting in poor circulation and high blood pressure. Also, parts of these plaques can break off and travel to the lungs, heart and brain, causing heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolus. Any one of these can be fatal.

For the diabetic person, the risks increase further, since simply having the disease already contributes to circulatory problems, heart disease, kidney disease (impacts blood pressure) and increases your risk for stroke.

Many dietitians now recommend that dietary fat be 30% or less of the diet, with less than 10% of the diet as saturated fats. Saturated fats do not break down as easily within the body as unsaturaged fats, and are therefore mor apt to cause health problems.

Keeping your saturated fats low, your total fat intake not more than 30% of your diet and embracing a healthy lifestyle that includes proper diet, exercise, fluids and blood sugar monitoring, can help to decrease your risk of developing heart, kidney and neurologic disease.

Here's to your health!

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