Diabetes mellitus (Commonly called as Diabetes) has turned as an epidemic and a key health problem in today’s society. Life style changes and urbanization are the two main reasons for diabetes to have escalated.
Dr Shiva Prasad
It is estimated that there are around 150 million people with diabetes worldwide, now, and it’s going to reach more than 350 million by the year 2025. It has also been forecasted that India is going to be the world capital for diabetes.
Why India???? The reason being the so called villages previously are no more villages, towns are no longer towns and semi urban, no longer semi urban but minor cities and cities have become modern cities.
There’s a lot of infiltration from villages and towns towards cites for better job prospects and higher standards of living. This in turn has led to congestion in the cities. People who used to walk for purchase of groceries and vegetables are now using two – wheelers and four – wheelers and door delivery facilities, because of their improved standards of living. Also exercise, which was a part of the individual’s life style, has become absent these days, which has led to increase in obesity rates.
The numbers of IFG & IGT (Impaired Fasting Glucose and Impaired Glucose Tolerance which are known as pre – diabetic state) are increasing due to change in eating habits. People whose diet was mainly ragi, jowar, chapathi and rice has now changed to fat rich foods like pizza’s, burgers, noodles, items filled with cheese and excessive oils to cite a few. This has in turn lead to increase in the rates of obesity. It is said that obesity is the forerunner for diabetes and heart problems.
Diabetes in early stages (Pre – Diabetes, i.e., IFG & IGT) if recognized can be controlled or postponed by following strict diet control as advised by a dietitian and increased physical activity in the form of aerobic exercises like brisk walking, jogging, playing tennis, swimming, etc. (As advised by a diabetologist according to prevailing body condition). Few studies in India and abroad have shown that diet and physical exercise could reverse diabetes in its early stages.
As the standard of living of an individual improves, the stress on an individual in the office also increases to achieve the given targets in a limited time. This has also led to change in eating habits (untimely food). Few studies have shown that stress also increases diabetes irrespective of genetic inheritance, obesity and physical inactivity.
It has been a mis-belief for most of the people that an individual gets diabetes only when he/she has a strong family history of diabetes, which is no longer true. There are lots of studies to substantiate the above. With rapid urbanization and trying to ape (follow) the western culture with respect to eating habits and lifestyle, we find an increased rate of diabetics among young children (School going).
If the same trend continues then the rates of obesity and other heart diseases along with hypertension can be seen at an early age in the years to come. The reason for the above could probably be attributed to both the parents working in high profile jobs. It is assumed that such parents are not finding sufficient time to spend with their wards and are being taken care of either by grandparents or by paid Guardians. This in turn leads to excess of eating at will without supervision. Also simultaneously when the parents have time, they do lot of outings or take their children to fast food joints or pizza joints. This leads to excess calorie intake and obesity ultimately, pre – disposing them to DM at young age.
As this is a computer era, we find a lot of children sitting at home luring onto computer/ television sets. In doing so, they are getting habituated to having unhealthy snacks in-between television watching. Also their physical activity has been reduced to more than 50% when compared to children, going to school 10-15 years back. Also because of high infiltration to cities, the children do not find adequate facilities to play. This has led them to frustration and dis-interest in games, shifting their interest towards in-door entertainment, like computer games and television. By doing so, it increases the rates of obesity and diabetes in young children, virtually the future of the nation.
It is important for everyone to awake and see the threat of life threatening conditions like diabetes and its complications and to take steps to prevent and control diabetes.
The steps to be followed require self motivation and commitment for good health. The steps are as follows:
- Regular physical exercise (aerobic exercise 30 – 60 minutes) in adults as well as children,
- Try walking small distances instead of using vehicles
- Healthy dietary and timely eating habits (avoidance of high calorie and fat containing foods)
- Slit your meals instead of bulky meals.
- Restrict eating outside
- Regularly consume fruits and vegetables.
- De-stress oneself by doing yoga, meditation or playing games or taking up hobbies.
- Create health consciousnesses in oneself.
Probably all these steps would keep you away from life threatening disease like diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, etc. and improve your quality of life. This also helps you to save more on family’s economy from spending too much money and time on health before too much damage is done.
