Tom Hanks has diabetes. He had symptoms even 20 years before diagnosis

“I have type 2 diabetes,” confessed Tom Hanks in 2013. He was diagnosed with the disease 20 years after the first symptoms appeared. “I was a total fool,” admitted Hanks as he talked about the causes of his diabetes. What made him sick? How to reduce the risk of disease? We explain.

1. In 2013, Tom Hanks revealed that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes
2. Hanks admitted that he had had symptoms for 20 years, but was diagnosed at the age of 57
3. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can be asymptomatic for many years, especially type 2 diabetes. Only a doctor can diagnose it
4. In one interview, Hanks called himself a “fool” for eating a poor diet, which he claims has led to the development of type 2 diabetes.
5. Rapid weight gains and losses, which he allowed when preparing for the roles, may have contributed to the actor’s illness.
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Tom Hanks about the diagnosis. «You have type 2 diabetes, young man»

In 2013, in the American program “Late Show”, then 57-year-old Tom Hanks admitted that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. «I went to the doctor and he said: do you know those high blood sugar values ​​that you have been struggling with since you were 36? You have type 2 diabetes, young man » – said the actor.

It follows that Hanks realized years before his diagnosis that he was at risk of diabetes (for over 20 years his blood glucose was at the upper normal level). He himself commented: “I belong to the lazy generation of Americans who […] are now struggling with the disease,” he told Radio Times. «I was heavy. You’ve seen me in the movies, you know what I looked like. I was a total fool »- he admitted. “My doctor says that if I can reach my target weight, I will no longer have type 2 diabetes,” added the actor.

The rest of the text is below the video.

In fact, one of the biggest risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is weight gain and obesity (BMI 25 or higher). “This does not mean that everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight or obese, but 90 percent. these patients are overweight. This is an extremely important risk factor »commented Dr. David M. Nathan, specialist in diabetes care. If you can eliminate it, it is possible to get rid of type 2 diabetes or at least stop the progression of the disease. Dr. Nathan recalled studies that weight loss can reduce the amount of diabetes medications you take or even eliminate the need for them altogether.

Type 2 diabetes is not just overweight. Hanks for another possible cause

Hanks’ doctors drew attention to yet another possible cause of the actor’s development of diabetes. Because type 2 diabetes is more than a poor diet, overweight and obesity. Medics believe that the dramatic weight fluctuations that the actor underwent for the roles may have contributed to the development of the disease. Let us just remind you that for the role in “Cast Away”, Tom Hanks lost over 22 kg, for the movie “Their Own League” he gained about 13 kg. The actor himself admitted that when he had to gain weight, he ate unhealthy food and exercised very little.

Dr. Holly Phillips, a doctor working with the American television network CBS, spoke in a similar vein: “During dramatic weight gain and weight loss, the body’s balance is completely upset. This may predispose you to develop type 2 diabetes later ». This is also suggested by a 2019 national survey in South Korea. Its authors concluded that “even people with normal glucose tolerance and those under the age of 65 had a higher risk of developing diabetes if their weight fluctuated significantly. Our results suggest that body weight variability is an independent risk factor for diabetes ».

In trying to deal with his diabetes, Tom Hanks tried to reduce his weight. Years ago, however, he admitted: “My doctor said: if you can weigh as much as you weighed in high school, you will basically be perfectly healthy and not have type 2 diabetes. as much as in high school ». Since his diagnosis, Hanks has lost weight. He also promised not to take on roles that would involve large fluctuations in his weight.

Type 2 diabetes and diet. How to eat to reduce the risk? Four rules

The good news is that pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are largely preventable through lifestyle changes. As we read on the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health website, about nine out of 10 cases in the US are avoidable, the key to diabetes prevention can be boiled down to five words: stay slim and be active.

We pointed out above that diet greatly influences the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. How to eat to remove the specter of the disease? Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health points to four changes:

1. Choose whole grains over refined grains and other highly processed carbohydrates.

2. Skip sweet drinks, choose water, coffee or tea instead (as long as you don’t “load” them with sugar and cream)

3. Choose healthy fats (contained, for example, in nuts and seeds)

4. Limit red meat and avoid processed meat; instead, choose nuts, beans, whole grains, poultry, or fish.

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