Diabetes is becoming more widespread in the United States each year. With an estimated 17 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, almost everyone knows at least one person who has this serious, lifelong condition.

Do you know your status?

Did you know that EVERY 24 HOURS in the US:

• 2,700 people are diagnosed with diabetes
  
• 1,200 people die from diabetes (one person every 1-3 minutes)
  
• 180 amputations are performed because of diabetes
  
• 120 people begin treatment for end-stage kidney disease because of diabetes
  
• 75 people lose their eyesight because of diabetes

Fast Facts About Diabetes

• 1 million new cases each year in people over the age of 20 in the US
  
• One-third of diabetics are undiagnosed
  
• Diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death in the US in 1999
  
• Diabetes kills more people every year than AIDS or breast cancer
  
• Greater than 450,000 deaths occur each year among people with diabetes aged 25 years and older
  
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years old
  
• Diabetes is the leading cause of treated end-stage renal disease
  
• People with diabetes have the same cardiovascular risk as if they have already had a heart attack
  
• Over 80,000 amputations are performed each year among people with diabetes

Everyone should be screened for diabetes!

• Below is a list of some of the high-risk factors of diabetes:
  
• Being more than 20% above your ideal body weight
  
• Having a family member with diabetes
  
• Having blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg
  
• Having abnormal blood lipid levels (cholesterol)
  
• Having abnormal glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes

Have you ever wondered why your physician, especially your naturopathic physician, looks at your hands, nails, tongue, and skin during the physical exam portion of your office visit? Are we just nosy, or do we actually gain valuable medical knowledge by performing such simple tasks? Of course, the latter is true. In fact, before the advent of modern technology and the varied blood/lab tests available today, physicians relied solely on the patient's history and physical exam to make a medical diagnosis. A large part of this overall physical exam is the Nutritional Physical Exam. Considering what is happening on the outside of our physical body is a mirror image of what is happening on the inside of our physical bodies, finding subtle physical signs provides us with an enormous amount of information. The full Nutritional Physical Exam includes 15-20 categories with greater than 50 nutritional signs examined. Some of the most common physical signs and their potential associated nutritional causes include:

• Dry skin, hair - possible hypothyroidism, essential fatty acid deficiency
  
• Premature hair loss - possible parasite infection, heavy metal toxicity
  
• Dandruff - possible low stomach acid, excess refined carbohydrate diet
  
• Excess ear wax - possible food allergies
  
• Multiple skin tags (usually on neck) - possible blood sugar abnormalities
  
• Ridging of nails - possible decreased mineral absorption from gut
  
• Flabby tongue with teeth marks - possible food allergies, poor digestion

In a society where chronic illness is all around, it is time for us all to get healthy. The first thing to do is to become aware of you! So the next time you are in front of the mirror, I invite you to take a few minutes to assess your nutritional status. Perform the above Nutritional Physical Exam on your self and answer the question… just how healthy are you?