How Can I Lower My Risks?

[netsavy006]

I know right off the bat that you can't totally avoid the concerns I mentioned in the topic description but are there ways I can reduce my chances of these things happening to me? I do have a family history of both high cholesterol and diabetes already, so that does kind of put me at a disadvantage. Zyprexa Zydis is something I'm going to be on long term as it is doing it's job of stabilizing my mood.

[Raquin]

Exercise was the first thing that came to mind. Exercise can help a lot with those problems. Of course so does food. Avoiding certain foods might be essential for you. Those are the only two things I can think of.

I hope you don't get sick, my uncle had Diabetes =( I wish you the best.

[mrsloony]

Keeping your weight in a normal healthy range is important. Most people who develop type II Diabetes are significantly overweight.

Healthy diet, excercise, no smoking- these help keep your weight in check as well as lower risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.(will usually keep cholesterol down and blood pressure down)

Its a good thing to try to get a handle on- especially when so many meds make us hungry and gain weight.

Unfortunately , hubby lost control of all of the above and is really struggling to get his health under control. ( probably would have been easier to prevent than it is to deal with now. Good for you for wanting to take control of your health!

[OreoKitty]

Cinnamon is known to help balance your blood sugar level. I've read a few books that talk about this. I take a cinnamon supplement daily.

Fish oil/omega 3 oil is good for your cholesterol level. It increases the good cholesterol and lowers the bad.

Not eating sugar and refined foods (white flour, etc) help keep your blood sugar level.

Coincidentally, I've read in bipolar books about not eating sugar and refined foods because it spikes and drops your blood sugar level which does not help your mood. This is a reason that I'm currently avoiding sugar and white flour and taking a cinnamon supplement (for my mood, I'm not diabetic or on an AP with that side effect). I have found that not eating sugar or white flour/pasta curbs my appetite, too (and added bonus).

Also, fish oil/omega 3 oil is good for mood disorders and brain chemistry.

I do keep adding this link into posts about reclassifying sugar as a drug (I believe it was someone on CB who originally posted it):

http://www.lurj.org/article.php/vol1n1/sugar.xml

And exercise is great for everything which is something I'm not doing yet.

Good luck,

Oreo

[Anelize]

There are a couple of options. They are both prescription. Axid and Metformin (glucophage) are said to help with AAP induced metabolic syndrome. Check out www.psycheducation.org--he's written fairly extensively on both, and the whole metabolic syndrome/AAP thing.

[olga]

netsavvy, both of my parents had high cholesterol and high blood pressure---and you don't have to accept that as your life just because it's your heredity. I would repeat what a couple of people said---exercise! And not a gentle stroll once or twice a week---real aerobic exercise like bicycling or fast walking or jogging. I can almost guarantee you that if your BMI is in the "normal" range, and you exercise vigorously 3-5 times each week, you will drastically reduce your chance of getting diabetes, and you will also lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Diet is crucial, too: whole grains, veggies and fruits, low-fat protein sources and go easy on the white bread, white rice and white sugar.

Good luck!

olga