Over the past few decades, the prevalence of diabetes in developed and developing countries has risen substantially at an alarming rate, making diabetes a major public health issue worldwide. As per WHO, the global prevalence of this chronic disease in 1980 was estimated to be 108 million, later in 2014 the number of Diabetes cases touched 422 million and the mortality rates rose by 3% between 2000 and 2020.
Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and has become a major health problem worldwide. It is evident from its long-term impacts that include coronary artery disease, diabetic nephropathy, stroke, amputations, and neoplasms are associated with a higher risk of all-cause death. In 2019 alone, diabetes and ensuing kidney failure recorded 2 million deaths.
To be able to fight disease, it is important to understand the underlying causes for it. Broadly speaking, an increase in blood glucose levels is called Diabetes. Before the glucose levels reach high enough to classify as diabetes, the stage reaches a higher-than-normal glucose level that falls under the Prediabetic segment.
With prediabetes, the long-term damage of diabetes — especially to your heart, blood vessels and kidneys — may already be starting. However, the silver lining is that progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is not inevitable.
Prediabetes doesn’t usually have any signs or symptoms, hence the basis of your lifestyle and genetic predilection, regular checks can help in early detection and timely intervention.
One possible sign of prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of the body. Affected areas can include the neck, armpits, and groin. In current years a drastic increase in prediabetic teens and young adults has been observed which can be attributed, amongst other things, to the following lifestyle factors-
* Being overweight.
* Eating processed foods with sugar, starches, and saturated fats in excess.
* Excessive stress.
* Smoking.
* Heavy alcohol use.
* Poor sleep habits.
* Exercising fewer than three times a week.
If proper lifestyle changes are adhered to, this condition can be curbed and not allowed to progress to frank diabetes.
Diabetes can further be classified as-
Type 1: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack.
Type 2: Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood. It’s the most common type—about 90% to 95% of diabetics are Type II.
Gestational: Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.
Other specific types of Diabetes -
Diabetes due to specific Genetic defects , Disease of Exocrine pancreas, Endocrine conditions, Drug induced and some infections.
Energy from the food we eat comes in the form of glucose, which is then broken down by the hormone Insulin. A lack of pancreatic ability to produce insulin leads to excess amounts of glucose (which is not broken down for consumption) in the body. This high level of glucose circulating in the blood is termed Type I diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes include (but are not limited to)-
* Excessive hunger
* Polydipsia
* Blurred vision
* Fatigue
* Polyuria
* Weight loss in a short period of time
Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly, in contrast, a person with type 2 diabetes may not know they have it until they have a complication.
With lifestyle modifications and weight reduction, type 2 diabetes can be made to go into remission stage, which means keeping the condition under control without any medications. However, you’ll need to continue with lifestyle modifications to ensure it stays in that way. Otherwise, blood sugar levels can easily rise again and re-reversal can occur.
Maintaining a moderate body weight is a good starting point towards keeping diabetes in control because excess fat affects how the body produces and uses insulin.
Further inclusions of basic routine which can help maintain a healthy glucose level and avoid complications, such as-
1. Eating healthy- choose healthy carbohydrates, including whole grains like brown rice, buckwheat and whole oats, fruit, vegetables, pulses as chickpeas, beans, and lentils, dairy products like unsweetened yoghurt and milk.
2. Daily exercise - at least a 30 min walk to keep you physically active.
3. Stress management
4. Avoiding alcohol and smoking
Diabetes is not to be dreaded, instead smart choices and a dedication towards defeating and preventing that is what will make us win against this chronic disease and live a long, healthy life.