Reader Question #4

Question: What's a hypotenuse? Also, what's the best way to avoid catching diabetes?

Answer: The side opposite your mom in a right triangle, or an airplane bathroom. Take your pick. As for your second question, stay the hell away from Wilford Brimley.

Real Answer: There are two major chemicals in the body which are involved in diabetes, insulin and glucagon. Insulin is the signal in the body which indicates that enough glucose is present in the system. When insulin levels are high, glucose will be packaged and stored for later use. Glucagon is the counterpart to insulin, signaling the body that glucose is low. When glucagon is high, the body will unpack stored glucose and release it to the system. These two chemicals exist in a push/pull relationship, with glucagon usually slightly dominate.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a genetic deficiency of insulin production. In this case, the body has no signal to tell it to package and store glucose. Adding to this problem is that glucagon is now unchecked, and the body will be unpacking what glucose it does have stored and sending it out to the system. These two effects together lead to hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is an acquired peripheral tissue resistance to insulin. While the body still produces insulin, the tissues which would use it to take up glucose are unable to do so. This leads to an increase in circulating glucose, and thus hyperglycemia.

The best way to avoid becoming a type 2 diabetic is simply to eat well and exercise. Adipose (fat) tissue acts as a gland within the body, and secretes substances which will either sensitize or desensitize the body to insulin. At appropriate levels, adipose serves to sensitize the tissues. In obese people, however, the opposite generally occurs. Combine these effects with a poor diet (high in fat and sugars), and your on the way to developing an insulin resistance, which can become diabetes.

A few other important factors to watch are blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) and blood pressure (<120/80 is ideal, but there is much flexibility in this number). While these factors will not directly contribute to diabetes, they are all good indicators of general health and should be monitored and discussed with your doctor. Also, if you don't have a family doctor, get one. The best way to stay healthy is to catch potential problems as early as possible.