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For all the government hype about a potential Bird Flu epidemic, it's amazing they're not addressing the Diabetes Epidemic in America. Here in Georgia nearly 8 percent of adults have type-2 diabetes, and diabetes costs Georgians $4 Billion in medical costs and lost productivity every year. Nationally, diabetes accounts for 11% of all health care spending.

Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and it is estimated that for every person that dies from diabetes, the disease contributes to the death of two more.

Many others live with the devastating consequences of the disease, which includes kidney failure, blindness, leg amputation, heart attack and stroke.

Also alarming is that cases are up 133% over the last eight years.

Type-1 diabetes, also called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, begins almost exclusively in children and usually lasts a lifetime. Type-2 diabetes, the most common form, is the form that's exploding across America. While there is probably a genetic component to the disease, it's main component is "environmental," that is, excess body fat, which makes the body "resistant" to insulin.

Type-2 diabetes used to be a rarity in children; now children with type-2 diabetes account for as much as two-thirds of new cases.

Risk Factors for Diabetes

Obesity: A body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 increases the risk of diabetes. To calculate you BMI, go here: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

Apple Shape: There is an increased risk of diabetes in African American, White and Latino women with a waist measurement over 35 inches and men with a waist measurement over 40 inches. The limits are lower for people of Asian background.

Ethnic Origin: There is a higher risk for African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Childbirth: Having had a baby weighing more than 9 lbs. at birth increases risk.

Age: Risks increase after age 45.

Family History of Diabetes.

Sedentary Lifestyle.

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

You may be at risk if you experience any of the following:

Excessive Thirst
Extreme Hunger
Frequent Urination
Increased Fatigue
Unusual Weight Loss
Irritability
Blurry Vision

Sources: Lawrence Phillips, MD, former program director of the General Clinical Research Center at Emory University, Atlanta, Frank Bowyer, Pediatric Endocrinologist, and the National Institute of Health.

Prevention and Treatment

One of the things that amazed me when I was Director of Creative Health Institute was how well, and quickly, diabetes responded to a living foods lifestyle. I saw people stabilize their blood sugar at normal levels often within days of arriving at the Center, and have heard testimonies from people who have been off of insulin, or any other diabetes drugs, for over 20 years.

This includes both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Type-1 takes longer to treat, and some type-1 diabetics never do overcome their dependence on insulin. But type-2 diabetes usually responds in a matter of days as people adopt raw living foods and regular exercise as a lifestyle.

Like any disease, the best treatment is prevention. That's why, at 51 years old, I adopted the living foods lifestyle. To see my before and after photos, visit http://chidiet.com/news/LivingFoodsNews20060429.htm#whatraw.

Sergei Boutenko overcame his diabetes with the living foods lifestyle 12 years ago. Victoria Boutenko tells the story in her book, Green for Life (http://chidiet.com/books.htm#Green), and her video, Greens Can Save Your Life (http://chidiet.com/tapes.htm#v64).

Victoria Boutenko wrote a good article about the living foods lifestyle and diabetes in her April newsletter: http://chidiet.com/news/RawFamilyNewsletterApril2006.htm.

Do your kids refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on TV? Children learn by watching their parents, so setting a good example of healthy eating is important, the Nemours Foundation says. Children who participate in family meals are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables, and less likely to snack on unhealthy foods. They are also less likely to indulge in smoking, drug and alcohol abuse: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060418/hl_hsn/healthtipgetyourkidstoeathealthy.

On getting outside and getting more exercise: http://chidiet.com/news/LivingFoodsNews20060429.htm#nature.

Related Items

Diabetics Need Intense GREENS! How to Easily Use the PRIMAL Nutrients in Cereal Grass Juices to Build Your Blood, Banish Infections, Regenerate Cells and Heal Diabetic Wounds!: http://www.rawfamily.com/articles/DiabeticWarrior.pdf.

Aimee Perrin would love to communicate with other diabetics or former diabetics who are on a raw food diet: chiDiet.com/news/LivingFoodsNews20060304.htm.