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United States Tom Hanks health: Star labeled himself a 'total idiot' after developing condition
The star, who is being honoured by Channel 5 throughout the whole afternoon, in what they have called Tom Hanks Day, is best known for his work in films like Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and as the voice of Woody in the Pixar franchise Toy Story. Having enjoyed a career for over 42 years, it was hard for Tom to know how successful he was going to become after starting out in acting in the 1980s. Contrastingly, Tom was aware that he was going to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes long before he actually received the diagnosis.
Having had high blood glucose levels for over 20 years, the 65-year-old star was unsurprised when his doctor told him that he was diabetic.
However, in an interview with the Radio Times back in 2016 the star admitted that he was a “total idiot” as he initially ignored medical advice and chose to live a lifestyle that he believed led to his type 2 diabetes.
"I'm part of the lazy American generation that has blindly kept dancing through the party and now finds ourselves with a malady," the actor explained.
“I was heavy. You've seen me in movies, you know what I looked like. I was a total idiot.
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“I thought I could avoid it by removing the buns from my cheeseburgers. Well, it takes a little bit more than that."
The NHS explains that type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.
Far more common than type 1, the NHS estimates that around 90 percent of all adults with diabetes in the UK have type 2 diabetes.
The main tell-tale signs of type 2 diabetes include the following:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling very tired
- Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- Itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- Blurred vision.
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However, many people develop type 2 diabetes and do not realise for years, as early symptoms such as the ones detailed above tend to be general.
When talking on an American TV show with former host David Letterman, Hanks elaborated to say: “My doctor says if I can hit a target weight, I will not have type 2 diabetes anymore.
“Well, I'm going to have type 2 diabetes then, because there is no way I can weigh [what I weighed] in high school.”
Hanks elaborated to say that he was “genetically inclined” to get the condition, as he had been leading the same lifestyle since he was the age of 36, one that involved living on junk food and very little exercise.
The American Diabetes Association explains that type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family history and lineage than type 1, however, environmental factors also play a role.
The website claims that for individuals with a family history of type 2 diabetes it can be difficult to figure out whether diabetes is due to either genetics, lifestyle factors or both.
Although there is no official cure for type 2 diabetes, studies have proved that individuals are able to control it with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
They may also have to carry out regular blood tests to ensure that their blood glucose levels stay balanced.
Due to his hectic work schedule, Hanks’ weight had fluctuated for various roles. According to Diabetes.co.uk, the star notably put on nearly two stone whilst filming A League of Their Own, but then had to lose a whopping three and a half stone for Castaway.
Diabetes specialist Andrew J. Drexler, M.D., professor of medicine and director of the Gonda Goldschmied Diabetes Center at UCLA, commented on his pattern of behaviour saying that although more evidence on the risk of this behaviour is needed, it is “probably harmful”.
In order to help with weight control, individuals may try a low-carb, Mediterranean diet. Diabetes.org provides some slight alternative meals for individuals with diabetes to try.
For breakfast the website recommends a bowl of wholegrain cereal with milk or two slices of wholegrain toast with olive-oil based spread, a small pasta salad for lunch and roast chicken and vegetables either with or without potatoes.
