Today, as we stand at the cusp of 2017, the situation is only getting worse. The condition is taking on “epidemic-like” proportions. In fact, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases.
The rate of diabetes increase must raise the red flag, and drive us to adopt a healthier lifestyle to avoid this chronic condition. However, this is more easily said than done in this age of speed, fast food, and fast services. We are no longer needed to exert ourselves physically to achieve anything. Most of our necessities are served to us on a platter.
The nature of work too has changed from manual to virtual with modern day professionals spending long hours glued to their smart screens, hardly moving a step. These and many more factors are responsible for the glaring and glum diabetes statistics that mock us in the face. We must understand the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and then take it on through sustained corrective measures.
Diabetes and Obesity
Medical practitioners and institutes have been calling out the rise of the “Diabesity” (obesity and type 2 diabetes) likely to be the biggest threat in human history. Many medical publications have mentioned this combination to be a global public health issue. This can be attributed to the widespread dominance of the “diabetes drivers.”
Some traditional diabetes drivers:
1. Genetics is said to play a major role in carrying forth diabetes. So, if your parents or siblings had or have diabetes, it is time you get yourself checked periodically.
2. Ethnicity: Certain ethnic races are more susceptible to insulin resistance. For example, Asians and Indians who eat rice are susceptible to type 2 diabetes.
Modern-day diabetes drivers:
1.Lifestyle: Places where rapid and major lifestyle changes have become commonplace are seeing growing incidences of the condition. Lack of physical activity combined with poor dietary habits are contributing to the rise of diabetes.
2.Stress: Stress results in the release of hormones like cortisol, which disrupt the bodily responses making it more vulnerable to fluctuations.
The impact of the diabetes
There is a high impact on social and economic wellbeing of nations due to diabetes. This is because of the chronic nature of the condition, associated complications, and resources required to manage them. World Health Organization estimates that up to 15% of annual health budgets are spent on diabetes-related illnesses.
In fact, the annual direct healthcare costs of diabetes the world over are estimated to be as much as 286 billion for people in the age group of 20–79. Moreover, diabetes is touted to be the fourth leading cause of death in the developed countries. However, what is alarming is the shifting demographics of the condition.
Traditionally known to be a lifestyle disease inflicting well-off people in the developing nations, today we see increasing incidences in low and middle-income countries owing to the economic advancement of these areas.
All is not lost!
Each year, seven million people develop diabetes. Because of the important role played by lifestyle, there is still huge potential for controlling diabetes. This starts with taking small steps in your day-to-day life.
1. Glucose monitoring:
Awareness and willingness to inculcate sugar treatment as a part and parcel of daily life is crucial to diabetes management. Today, a number of home glucose monitoring mechanisms has brought diabetes care closer to our homes making it possible to remain consistent in undertaking diabetes treatment.
2. Regular exercise:
Studies show that losing even as little as 5% of your body weight is sufficient to reduce insulin resistance.
3. Diet Management:
Staying hooked onto a diabetes diet requires some attention and planning. Whole wheat grains, citrus fruits and vegetables etc. are a must have on a regular basis. Try to follow a balanced diet and include most of diabetes superfoods to ensure a consistent sugar control program.
4. Medical care:
Along with your diabetes doctor, it is important to stay connected to your overall healthcare team. Today, a number of medical breakthroughs are available and affordable to diabetics – second generation oral agents and monitoring systems with analytics and data intelligence can provide accurate insights and recommendations on sugar treatment.
These solutions are within easy reach of you and I, provided we take it on ourselves to start a different life – a life of conscious and healthy living. It is high time we break free from diabetes and live our lives to the fullest by controlling diabetes or diabetes risk factors proactively rather than it taking control of us.
