'Double Diabetes' a New Threat

"One of the consequences of proper insulin use is weight gain," he said. "Often, patients who have not had a good understanding of how to eat are taking the insulin to cover what they normally eat."

The national trend toward unhealthy weight gain has spurred both the diabetes epidemic and this newer, more complex form of the disease, agreed Dr. Francine Kaufman, past president of the American Diabetes Association and head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

"It's mirroring the obesity epidemic," Kaufman said.

Diabetes can cause a number of complications that range from life-damaging to life-threatening. They include heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, diseases of the nervous system, lower-limb amputations, dental disease and complications during pregnancy.

The best way to avoid these complications is to avoid contracting diabetes. A recent study conclusively showed that people on the verge of contracting type 2 diabetes prevented its onset through changes to their diet and increased exercise, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The federal Diabetes Prevention Program study found that diet and exercise actually worked better than some medications in delaying the development of diabetes, according to the association. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a five percent to 10 percent reduction in body weight, produced a 58 percent reduction in diabetes.

"People need to maintain a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle," Kaufman said.

Weiss recommends improving diet by eating more vegetables, fewer starches and more lean meat and fish. "I like to say there's no medication that can overcome a bad diet," he said.

He also said people should not only eat healthier, but they should try to eat less, too.

"The problem really is overeating in general," he said. "The portion size put before us is very large, so portion control is the single most important thing. You've got to know when to say when."

More information

To learn more, visit the American Diabetes Association.

SOURCES: Stewart Weiss, M.D., assistant clinical professor of medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; Francine Kaufman, M.D., past president of the American Diabetes Association, and head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; American Dibetes Association, Alexandria, Va.