Why is this... and is there anything someone with diabetes can do to slow down the aging process?

The reason why diabetics age at a faster rate than non-diabetics is due to a process that is called, "glycation". Glycation happens as we get older, but it also happens to diabetics no matter what their age is.

Glycation is a biological process that, without going into detail, damages the body.

That is why you will see a lot of ailments associated with diabetes... such as cardiovascular problems, vision problems, hearing loss, memory or cognitive problems, impotence and skin conditions. Diabetics sometimes develop these problems due to "glycation".

This process is the same process that happens to us when we age. Toxic substances form in the body due to glycation and cause stress and damage to our cells, organs and tissues. These toxic substances increase as we get older and the levels we accumulate in our bodies are fueled by the foods we eat.

Glycation has been related to not only diabetes but also diseases such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimers and certain kinds of neuropathy.

Here is something else that causes more of a problem for diabetics. When we cook our foods with high heat (anything above 250 degrees such as broiling, baking, frying and barbecuing), glycotoxins are formed... and glycotoxin levels increase dramatically in diabetics because these toxins thrive in a high glucose environments.

If you have diabetes, be careful when you go out to eat as well. Restaurants often use certain heating processes to enhance the flavor of foods, to improve safety and to extend the shelf life. Glycotoxins are often a result of these processes.

This all seems like bad news, but there are some changes in the diet diabetics can make in order to help themselves.

When following a diabetes diet, try as much as you can to cook meat or chicken at a temperature that is lower than 250 degrees. Instead of broiling or baking foods, try poaching, steaming, stewing or slow cooking the foods. Most people have a crock pot so that would be one of the easiest ways to cook food. The lower the temperature, the better.

Copyright (c) 2008 Hope Pope