Griffen is now 60 years old and she knows that this family history, along with her age, weight, activity level and other indicators, put her in the medical category of "pre-diabetic."
To stave off the disease and its complications - cardiovascular, eye, nerve and kidney problems and infection - Griffen has enrolled in the Diabetes and Diabetes Prevention Program, a six-week, repeatable class at the University of Utah's Division of Physical Therapy designed specifically for people who have diabetes and for whom it looms on the horizon.
Nearly 20 million people in the United States have Type-2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. The condition, where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, is on the rise because of the current obesity epidemic.
Although physical activity is one way to manage the disease, a recent study from the University of Denver found that 75 percent of Type 2 diabetics do not exercise. Also, U. of U. program director Sheldon Smith said that intense exercise can be hazardous. It can induce cardiac arrest, raise blood pressure and cause blisters that get infected and retinas to bleed. So to attract people who need to get moving, and to keep them from dropping out, Smith personalizes each patient's regimen based on a target heart rate and according to how much exertion and endurance they can tolerate. Patients build cardiovascular endurance with progressive aerobic activity - walking, cycling, rowing, stair-stepping, hopping on a mini-trampoline. For muscle tone, they work on gradual progressive resistance exercise for the upper and lower body so as to avoid soreness. "Being comfortable with the workout is key to sticking with the program," said Smith. Essential to all of this are blood sugar and blood pressure checks before, during and after exercising. If these measures fall out of the normal range, or if participants feel dizzy, shaky, sweaty or weak, Smith has them stop and have a snack of oranges, apples, raisins, juice or hard candy - the remedy for a sudden drop in blood sugar.
A further advantage of a group activity such as this, said Smith, is the psychological benefit of not feeling alone. "Also, having a trained professional available provides participants with the understanding that they are in a safe environment," she added. "They learn the proper components of exercise and how to progress safely. The main goal is to help them build self-confidence so they can continue this on their own but also come back for help if they need to."
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* JANE GRAU can be contacted at jgrau@sltrib.com or 801-257-8694. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
Volunteers needed
* THE U. OF U. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY needs volunteers who have been diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes for a research project, beginning in February 2007, to study of the effects of aerobics and resistance training on blood-sugar control.
* IF INTERESTED or for more information about the Diabetes and Diabetes Prevention Program contact Sheldon Smith at 801-581-6696.
