Diabetes, a predominant disease among Indians
Diabetes, a predominant disease among Indians https://www.rvcn.edu.in/wp-content/themes/rvitm/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 admin https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0abb7ec1c8230222ce16076f8ab0e2ec?s=96&d=mm&r=gIndia has become the Diabetic capital of the world. Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar. The normal blood sugar levels sit between 70 and 99 mg/dL, whereas a person with diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar higher than 126 mg/dL.
Usually, when you eat food, your body breaks it down into glucose (sugar), which then enters your blood, and signals the pancreas to release the hormone insulin. Insulin facilitates the entry of glucose into your cells, which use it for producing energy. When you have diabetes, your body either does not produce enough insulin or doesn’t produce it at all. This leads to a glucose build-up in your bloodstream.
Did you know that the burden of diabetes is increasing rapidly in the country, with one in six people with diabetes in the world being from India? The statistics show that, it was dignosed in 9.3 per cent senior citizens living in India’s rural areas, according to a recent study by the Union Ministry of Family and Health Welfare (MoFHW) published on January 6, 2021. Another report said more than three quarters of Indians above the age of 45 were undergoing treatment for diabetes.
Usually there are three major diabetes types : Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
- Type I diabetes:Also known as juvenile diabetes, this type occurs when the body fails to produce People with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.
- Type 2 diabetes:Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most common type of diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes:This type occurs in women during pregnancy when the body can become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes does not occur in all women and usually resolves after giving birth.
A person otherwise healthy, can be vulnerable to get Diabetes if any of these risk factors hold an upper hand;
- being overweight
- a family history of diabetes
- having a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level lower than 40 mg/dL or 50 mg/dL
- a history of high blood pressure
- having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a child with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds
- a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- being of African-American, Native American, Latin American, or Asian-Pacific Islander descent
- being more than 45 years of age
- having a sedentary lifestyle
If at all you have Diabetes, then the steps you can take to embrace a lifestyle so that you can combat positively are:
- Eating a diet high in fresh, nutritious foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, and healthy fat sources, such as nuts.
- Avoiding high-sugar foods that provide empty calories, or calories that do not have other nutritional benefits, such as sweetened sodas, fried foods, and high-sugar desserts.
- Refraining from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or keeping intake to less than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.
- Engaging in at least 30 minutes exercise a day on at least 5 days of the week, such as of walking, aerobics, riding a bike, or swimming.
- Recognizing signs of low blood sugar when exercising, including dizziness, confusion, weakness, and profuse sweating
All in all, Diabetes though doesn’t have a cure, it can be managed well with tuning of our lifestyle habits and adhering to the regimen advised the doctor.
