Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about some holiday hazards and how to prevent them. The parties and special treats associated with the holiday season may mean a little weight gain for many of us, but for people with undiagnosed diabetes, those holiday treats could end up being deadly.
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms build up over time. The damage may be done before there’s ever a diagnosis. Dr. Manisha Chandalia, an endocrinologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says if diabetes isn’ t treated, the high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and amputations. It isn’t just eating sugar that can lead to diabetes. The problem is excess calories — from sugar or other foods — that lead to obesity. Dr. Chandalia recommends that anyone over 40 who is obese or who has a family history of diabetes be tested for the disease.
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December 2006
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