clinical
Food Fight
The Role of Nutrition in Combating Diabetes By Matt Chandler
The average weight of an American, and the prevalence of diabetes in America share one thing in common: both are on the rise. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reports that Americans have increased their weight by an average of ten pounds in the last decade. Meanwhile, the American Diabetes Association says the number of Americans living with diabetes has ballooned to more than 34 million. The connection between obesity and diabetes is not new, but the rate with which Americans are packing on the pounds and suffering the health ramifications from it is alarming some in the medical community. A 2019 review by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health pointed to several factors researchers says are all on the rise, as major contributors to the diabetes epidemic. They include: • Obesity/rising BMI • Increasingly sedentary lifestyles • High blood pressure • Higher levels of “bad” cholesterol 18 I VOLUME 1 I 2020 WNYPHYSICIAN.COM
Millions of Americans walk less, sit for their jobs, skip the gym, and consume fast food and heavily processed foods, and the results are reflected in the significant rise in diabetes. Losing weight can be a daunting task, as can be getting to the gym, moving around during your workday, and passing on the drive thru in favor of a healthy meal at home after a long day. But those decisions may very well save your life. Christine Wolniewicz is a Registered Dietitian with General Physician, PC. She specializes in working with patients who are looking to make nutritional changes in their life, often as it relates to diabetes or prediabetes. She says the beauty of the top factors cited in the Harvard study, is that all can be significantly improved with the help of a nutritional counselor. “For a lot of people, they have never been taught how to eat healthy,” Wolniewicz says. “They may have learned the ‘my plate’ guide, or been told to eat a balanced diet, but we know so much more today than ever before about how the science of proper nutrition impacts your overall health.” “There are guidelines for healthy eating of course, but I work with my patients to get to know them, to understand the what, when, where, and why behind their food choices,” Wolniewicz says. “That allows me to tailor a nutrition plan that is right for their unique body and lifestyle.” Another big advantage of working with a registered dietitian, is accountability. “Too often, people lack a true accountability partner who will keep them on track with their nutrition goals,” she says. “Having an objective dietitian to check in with, who will review your food app, monitor your weight, review your food logs, and give positive, feedback and direction, can make a big difference.” She says one of the obstacles that keeps people from working with a registered dietitian is often a miscommunication about the service. “Many people don’t realize that most insurance plans cover