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Obesity/Diabetes - November '06
Fighting Obesity: Your Best Option for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Dalynn Badenhop, PhD
The two greatest risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes are family history and obesity. Of the two, obesity is the only risk factor an individual can control.
According to a recent study completed by the Diabetes Prevention Program, fighting obesity is well worth the effort: “Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a five to 10 percent reduction in body weight, produced a 58 percent reduction in diabetes.” These results are better than those achieved with medication, the American Diabetes Association added.
Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of the disease. With this type, the body’s cells ignore insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blood instead of being absorbed into the cells. This, in turn, causes additional complications: The body’s cells may become starved for energy, and high blood glucose levels may eventually damage the patient’s heart, nerves, eyes and kidneys.
The Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program is a great resource for people who have diabetes and heart conditions,” says Dr. Dalynn Badenhop, professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular rehabilitation at University Medical Center on The University of Toledo Health Science Campus.
Relationship between exercise and insulin
“Exercise helps people control Type 2 diabetes by making the body more sensitive to insulin,” explains Dr. Badenhop. Insulin sensitivity has to do with how well the body’s cells respond to insulin by lowering blood glucose levels.
Walking is often the recommended form of exercise. “However, most people don’t achieve the necessary results when they’re simply told to start walking on their own,” says Dr. Badenhop.
“At the cardiovascular rehab center, we give patients specific guidelines on how fast and how far to walk based on their individual fitness levels. We also provide ongoing motivation and moral support,” he adds. “In addition, patients receive the added benefits of working out with other people. It’s very therapeutic for them to know they’re not alone in facing these challenges.”
Patients enrolled in the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program have full access to the fitness center at the Health Science Campus of the University of Toledo. They use treadmills, exercise bicycles, rowing machines, elliptical machines, weight training equipment and an indoor track.
As patients continue with their exercise programs, they not only improve their physical conditioning, but they also lose body fat and improve their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Exercise is part of multifaceted program
“Exercise is only one of four components of our rehab program,” says Dr. Badenhop. “The others include eating right, education and effectively managing stress. They make up what I call ‘the four E’s.’ By working on all four aspects of our program, patients become empowered to take better care of their overall health.”
Eating right
All patients meet with a dietitian, whose goal is to foster dietary awareness and healthy eating habits that will stay with patients for a lifetime. “Losing weight is not the primary focus of these efforts. Rather, the goal is to help patients lose what is called ‘abdominal girth.’ Fat in this area correlates very closely to a person’s risk for heart conditions,” Dr. Badenhop explains.
Education
The educational aspect of the rehab program takes place in several ways. All patients meet with a nurse who reviews their medications and pathophysiology (i.e., the source of their heart problem). Patients participate in a lecture series covering such topics as stress management, the workings of the heart and the importance of remaining active while aging. Participants also receive important dietary information regarding sodium, fats, cholesterol, reading food labels and counting calories.
“The rehab program also provides patients with access to many educational CDs, which they can listen to while they’re using the exercise equipment,” says Dr. Badenhop. “Topics include diet, exercise, diabetes, hypertension, smoking cessation and improving stress management.”
Effectively managing stress
“We screen all our patients for depression and anxiety when they come into the program. Those who are identified as having increased levels of anxiety and/or depression are referred back to their primary care providers for additional intervention,” says Dr. Badenhop. “Patients who wish to quit smoking are offered one-on-one counseling as well as nicotine replacement therapies and other pharmacological aids for smoking cessation.”
Rehab programs generally run three months. During this time, patients visit the center three times a week. “For people with a variety of heart conditions, cardiac rehab therapy is usually covered by insurance or Medicare,” adds Dr. Badenhop.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Badenhop, call 419-383-5378 ext. 611
