WSIL-TV 3 ABC
Last updated 1:29 am CT September 06, 2010.
Diabetes Awareness
Registered and licensed dietitian Gail Peterman talks with folks everyday about portion control when it comes to their diet.
"Most people eat three to four times what they need to have for a portion on their plate."
Peterman is a certified diabetes educator at the Murphysboro Health Center. She's seen a big change over the last 25 years in the patients who come to see her. Then most of them were in their 60's and 70's.
"Now I see teenagers, children who are type 2 diabetics. People in the their 20's, 30's, 40's and it's a condition that gets worse."
Peterman says too many carbohydrates are part of the problem. She uses this toy food to teach patients what to eat and what to avoid. She says it's important to not eliminate carbs completely from the diet because they provide us with energy.
"We want more complex carbohydrates and not simple sugars. More like the sweets, syrups, honey, and candy, and things like that."
Peterman says there's no one simple prescription for curing obesity and diabetes. That's why she encourages people to see a registered dietitian to learn what's best for them. And in most cases, insurance will cover the cost.
"There really is no reason for people not to get the care. The facility here, we have a sliding fee scale, so if they have no insurance, they're still going to be able to receive the service."
Peterman says some of the tell tail signs of diabetes include, increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, weight loss, and wounds that heal right.
by Kevin Hunsperger
khunsperger@wsiltv.com
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