Weight Gain, Carb Urges, Fatigue Signal Future Disease Risk

For women, excess weight in the midsection, carbohydrate cravings and frequent fatigue may be warning signs of something more serious. A new survey commissioned by the National Women’s Health Resource Center showed that 75 percent of women ages 40 to 65 with a family history of diabetes or heart disease experienced these symptoms.

However, nearly one-third of all women surveyed did not know they were signs of impaired insulin function, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The most common symptoms experienced were excess weight in the midsection, carbohydrate cravings and frequent fatigue.

“When women who don’t have diabetes hear the word ‘insulin,’ they tune out because they think it doesn’t apply to them,” said Audrey Sheppard, president and chief executive officer of the National Women’s Health Resource Center, the leading independent health information source for women. “It is critical for women to look at these symptoms as a wake-up call and understand that insulin health is important for all of us.”

The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and funded through an unrestricted grant by Nutrition 21, also showed 94 percent of U.S. adult women are unaware that low levels of the mineral chromium impact blood sugar.

Only 10 percent reported that their daily diet contains sufficient amounts of chromium as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chromium is an essential mineral that helps improve insulin health the same way calcium helps promote bone health.

“As a nutritionist, it’s important to encourage people to be active and eat a balanced diet. However, the average American diet only supplies about 1 to 2 micrograms of chromium per serving,” said Carolyn O’Neil, a registered dietitian and author of the best-selling book “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous.”

“When choosing a supplement, women should select a brand that is considered safe and effective,” O’Neil said. “For instance, Chromax is the most studied form of chromium and its safety has been validated by government health authorities.”

Women can evaluate their insulin health and stay current on the latest news and research by visiting www.BloodSugarFactor.com. In addition, the National Women’s Health Resource Center has created tools to help women better understand and take care of their blood sugar.

They are available for download at www.HealthyWomen.org/bloodsugar or by calling 877-986-9472.