New Delhi: The world is already dealing with the burden of deadly diseases among which the leading is diabetes and prediabetes stages. Prediabetes is the stage that occurs when the insulin is produced by the body that does not work effectively, hence the blood sugar levels of pre-diabetic patients are high but not that high to be classified as diabetes. It is the most critical stage for intervention and requires proper medical care and lifestyle changes. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 25 million (130 million people for reference) in India over the age of 18 are prediabetic, however, awareness of the same in this country is extremely low.
Dr Manoj Chawla, Director and Consultant Diabetologist, Lina Diabetes Care & Mumbai Diabetes Research Center Andheri West shared with News9, “Research has shown that decades of exposure to famines and food insecurity has taught the Indian body to not burn off fat but rather store it around essential organs by going into a ‘starvation-proof mode’, and this increases our risk of developing diabetes and heart diseases. Adding to this is a lack of physical exercise and a diet rich in carbohydrates and sweets. Thus, awareness is extremely important to help prediabetic individuals maintain optimum health.”
Link between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
Research has also shown that there exists a link between diabetes and cardiovascular issues, thus, awareness of the same is very necessary to prevent future complications. According to Dr Chawla, “For high-risk individuals, it is important to not just maintain vigilance about their diet and lifestyle but also to start on a proper course of metformin to delay the onset of diabetes. Both adults and children who are pre-diabetic should be tested every six months to ensure their blood glucose levels remain under check. Pre-diabeƟcs have all chances of reversing any upheaval in their blood glucose levels if they continue to remain vigilant about their health.”
Why should we care about prediabetes?
Dr Chawla, “Another thing that is very critical why we should care about prediabetes is completely financial since it is a long process of treatment in which we have to manage our expenses for a longer time. However, the treatment of prediabetes is much cheaper than for type 2 or type 1 diabetes, both of which are cost-intensive. Lifestyle changes need discipline and will but no significant financial investment to make, thus, prediabetes management is easier to manage financially.”
Most importantly, though caring about prediabetes offers individuals an opportunity to take proactive steps towards better health. By adopting a healthier lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight one can stave off other serious ailments, thus, it is a lifelong investment individuals make for their health and well-being. It can also lead to improvements in bodily functions, improve energy levels, give confidence and help regulate emotions better. For women who suffer from hormonal imbalances or PCOS, effective lifestyle management can help fight these conditions too.
Research has shown that decades of exposure to famines and food insecurity has taught the Indian body to not burn off fat but rather store it around essential organs by going into a ‘starvation-proof mode’, and this increases our risk of developing diabetes and heart diseases Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
