Diabetes
and Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic
syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together,
increasing your risk for heart disease, stroke and
diabetes. Having just one of these conditions increased
blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess body
fat around the waist or abnormal cholesterol levels
contributes to your risk of serious disease. In combination,
your risk is even greater.
These
risk factors generally include:
- Obesity,
particularly around your waist (having an "apple
shape")
- Elevated
blood pressure
- An
elevated level of the blood fat called triglycerides
and a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol the "good" cholesterol
- Resistance
to insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate the
amount of sugar in your body
The following
factors increase your chances of having metabolic
syndrome:
- Age.
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases with
age, affecting less than 10 percent of people in
their 20s and 40 percent of people in their 60s.
However, one study shows that about one in eight
schoolchildren have three or more components of
metabolic syndrome.
- Race.
Hispanics and Asians seem to be at greater risk
for metabolic syndrome than other races are.
- Obesity.
A body mass index (BMI) a measure of your percentage
of body fat based on height and weight — greater
than 25 increases your risk of metabolic syndrome.
So does abdominal obesity — having an apple
shape rather than a pear shape.
- History
of diabetes. You're more likely to have
metabolic syndrome if you have a family history
of type 2 diabetes or a history of diabetes during
pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
- Other
diseases. A diagnosis of high blood pressure,
cardiovascular disease or polycystic ovary syndrome
; a similar type of metabolic problem that affects
a woman's hormones and reproductive system—
also increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.
People
who suffer from metabolic syndrome are at a much greater
risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as other
diseases. Metabolic syndrome is extremely common in
some areas of the world. Some estimates put the American
figure for metabolic syndrome cases above 40 million.
Most commonly, patients suffering from metabolic syndrome
will exhibit two major symptoms: abdominal obesity
and resistance to insulin.
Diagnosis
of metabolic syndrome
Although
an accurate form of diagnosis is not yet universally
accepted, some experts believe that a combination
of three of the following components is indicative
of metabolic syndrome:
Larger
waist circumference
Higher levels of triglycerides
Lower HFL cholesterol
Higher blood poressure
Higher fasting glucose levels
Managing
metabolic syndrome
It
is important to intervene into metabolic syndrome
at an early stage, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes
developing. Diet and exercise are the critical factors
in solving this problem. Weight loss, increased exercise
levels and a healthy diet are the primary tools in
managing metabolic syndrome.
