A Pre-cursor to Diabetes and Heart
Disease: Family Physicians Say Patients Should Understand the
Dangers of Metabolic Syndrome
August 8, 2005
Family physicians say thousands of
Minnesotans are unaware they have a condition that puts them at
higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. That’s
because metabolic syndrome – sometimes called insulin-resistance -
is not an illness in itself, but rather a clustering of issues that
together make it more likely that a person will develop
life-threatening health problems.
“We’re actually looking for a grouping of symptoms that suggests a
person is insulin resistant,” said George Schoephoerster, M.D., a
St. Cloud family physician and president of the Minnesota Academy of
Family Physicians. “The problem is that many of these people feel
healthy and don’t see a doctor. They have no idea that the
combination of these symptoms is putting them in danger.”
A person with metabolic syndrome has problems with the way that
their body metabolizes sugar. Their body makes ineffective insulin,
which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, hardening of the arteries and an
increased risk of blood clots which can cause heart attacks or
strokes. The major characteristics of metabolic syndrome include
obesity in the abdominal area; high blood pressure; a high blood
sugar level, but one that is not high enough to be classified as
diabetes; and abnormal fat levels such as a high level of
triglycerides (fat that forms in the blood) or a low level of
high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) (the so-called good cholesterol).
People who have three or more of these characteristics are said to
have the syndrome.
Although most of those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome are
considered overweight or obese, those with a normal weight can have
it too. Findings from the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention’s most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey show that at least 47 million Americans have metabolic
syndrome. Experts predict many more have it and don’t know it.
Risk factors include a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and a person’s
genetic makeup.
“Males with a waist circumference greater than 37 inches and females
with a waist circumference greater than 31 inches should consider
talking to their doctor about metabolic syndrome,” said Doctor
Schoephoerster. He added that patients with hypertension, those
with a family history of diabetes, those with a lot of skin tags
(another indicator of insulin resistance) and those older than 45
years old would likely benefit from a conversation with their
physician.
“Excess weight and lack of physical activity are underlying
contributors to metabolic syndrome, but the good news is that
healthy lifestyle changes can reverse the complications associated
with it. Making smart choices early on can even prevent a person
from developing it in the first place,” said Doctor Schoephoerster.
Doctors agree the best way to fight metabolic syndrome is to make an
effort to lose weight. Exercising not only improves insulin levels,
but it speeds up weight loss. Another suggestion is to reduce the
amount of refined sugars you take in while increasing the amount of
fiber and complex carbohydrates that you consume.
“Making this kind of change in a person’s life is not always easy.
That’s why working with a family physician you trust is so
important,” said Doctor Schoephoerster. “A good relationship with a
doctor helps you to make good choices based on both your personal
values and the best scientific information available.”
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional
association of approximately 2,900 family physicians, family
medicine residents and medical students organized to assist family
physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota. The MAFP
is the largest medical specialty organization in Minnesota and is a
state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the
largest medical specialty organization in the United States with
more than 93,000 members.
