Dr. Jitendra Singh
This columnist is often confronted by Diabetics who desperately ask “Doctor, is there no permanent cure for Diabetes?” To each such query, the scientific answer sought to be offered is that even if Diabetes is not curable in the conventional or literal sense, it is amenable to be kept under fairly good control through lifestyle modifications and if required, medication. But, more important than that is to educate the unaffected people with a history of Diabetes in the family about the prevention of Diabetes and how best to prevent Diabetes so that it does not occur in the first place.
More than ever before, today there is a greater need to spread the message that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, the world’s fastest growing chronic disorder is indeed preventable! Worldwide over 300 million people including children and adolescents have “Pre-Diabetes” which can be prevented from developing into Diabetes.
KEY TO PREVENTION
The key to prevention of Diabetes is early detection of a recently termed condition called “Pre-diabetes”…. a stage when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes. As mentioned above, there are already over 300 million people with Pre-diabetes today and this number is expected to rise to 472 million by 2025. During the pre-diabetes stage, resistance to Insulin develops with the result that Blood Sugar levels begin to fluctuate.
Pre-diabetes is known to affect one in six adults and is also prevalent in children or adolescents. It is a part of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome comprising obesity, abnormal blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, disturbed lipid/cholestrol levels and thrombogenesis. Thus pre-diabetes is considered a marker of increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes and future heart attacks.
There are no warning signs or obvious symptoms of ensuing Diabetes.However, if one is overweight or obese, has a family history of Diabetes or leads a sedentary lifestyle, then one is a likely candidate for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
TIPS TO REMEMBER
Any rise or fluctuation in Blood Sugar levels must be taken seriously because it may indicate Pre-diabetes and also indicate progression from Pre-diabetes to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus which can be prevented. At this stage, lifestyle changes will work. Healthy eating and physical activity as also Yoga and meditation are twice as effective as medication and not nearly as costly. On the other hand, pre-diabetes, if left untreated, may develop into diabetes within 5 to 10 years with accompanying risk of heart attack, brain stroke, kidney failure, leg amputation and blindness.
Further, with 80% to 90% of people diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes being overweight or obese it is time to act before pre-diabetes progresses to full-fledged diabetes. Remember, Diabetes is preventable!
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