What you may not know about SUGAR...

by Lion Del Neumeister - 5SW Diabetes Chairman

Lion Del Neumeister

Sugar.  To start with, each of us needs to know that when we are talking sugar, we are talking about several things.  Sugar is more than just what you sprinkle on your cereal in the morning or put in your coffee.  Sugar is created in your body when you eat certain things.  Some (this certainly doesn't include all) of the common things are pasta, bread and potatoes. When I eat these things, I know that eventually my blood sugar will go up.  So, what do we do?

Do we need to eliminate sugar from our diet completely?  Let me just say that not only is that unpleasant, I believe that it is impossible.  Sugar enters the body in many forms.  So, once again, what do we do?

If you want to control your diabetes rather than have your diabetes control you, I believe that the first thing you need to do is to know how your body reacts to food.  In order to do that, you must check your blood sugar and, in one way or another, record what you have consumed.  For me, this means keeping track of what I eat at meals and snacks as well.  Anything (you can skip water) that you put in you, eat or drink, should be kept track of.  I do this in my, twice daily, recording sheet I use.  You can use whatever works for you.

I believe that there are three things you will learn when you are diligent in your record keeping.  I believe you will discover there are foods that raise your blood sugar, foods that have no effect on your blood sugar and foods that lower your blood sugar.  Mind you, the last one (lowering) was discovered by me AFTER I knew which foods raised my blood sugar.

I know someone who has had diabetes for over 50 years.  This person eats nearly anything they want.  The reason is because after eating, testing occurs.  This person, over the years has LEARNED what will and won't raise their blood sugar – and what to do about it.

The most important things, I BELIEVE, we need to do is have regular conversations with our doctor.  Controlling diabetes means living life.  Let's do it.

Next month:  Let's Talk Exercise!

Lions Del Neumeister and Brian Kline teamed up last night (11/10/17) to present a powerful program on the alarming growth of diabetes in this country – and around the world.   It was a small but engaged group of Lions that gathered to hear the presentation during our regular Lion's meeting at Grap's in Belle Fourche.

The impact on the disease is staggering:  422 million people around the world have diabetes, and it's estimated that by the year 2040, that figure will climb to 642 million.   Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in women.  Every seven seconds, a person dies from diabetes.  It's astounding to realize that half the people with the disease don't even know they have it.

The program gave Belle Fourche Lions a head start on the "Worldwide Week of Service on Diabetes" (November 13-19) initiated by Lions, International, which is urging Lions Clubs such as ours to support those affected by diabetes in our local communities.  Worldwide, Lions hopes to serve as many as 200 million people per year by 2021.

Awareness comes first, and Lions Del and Brian helped us take the first step in understanding just how pervasive and threatening diabetes is.

Each member talked about how diabetes has touched him or her.  Some of our members have the disease.  Others are borderline.  The disease has claimed the lives relatives and friends – and the projections are sobering, especially in a society where obesity is running rampant and diabetes is not far behind.  We CAN do something in Belle Fourche.

Members discussed a variety of possible awareness programs (this program being a start!)   We discussed way that Lions could help expand screening and testing for the disease.

"Some very good ideas came forth," according to Lion Neumeister.  Your ideas are needed, too!

We trust all Belle Fourche Lions – even those who are inactive – will join us in this effort to raise awareness, and to seek prevention, detection, and control of this disease.

We serve!

Please take the time to explore online information from Lions, International about diabetes!

Visit:  Lions Assault on Diabetes