DIABETES

Diabetes: A very scary Pandemic disease.....

Diabetes now affects 7% of the world’s adult population. The regions with the highest comparative prevalence rates are North America, where 10.2 % of the adult population have diabetes, followed by the Middle East and North Africa Region with 9.3%. The regions with the highest number of people living with diabetes are Western Pacific, where some 77 million people have diabetes and South East Asia with 59 million.

India is the country with the most people with diabetes, with a current figure of 50.8 million, followed by China with 43.2 million. Behind them the United States (26.8 million); the Russian Federation (9.6 million); Brazil (7.6 million); Germany (7.5 million); Pakistan (7.1 million); Japan (7.1 million); Indonesia (7 million) and Mexico (6.8 million).

There are 2 types of Diabetes mainly: Type-1 and Type 2.

Type 2 diabetes—the most common form of diabetes—is caused by a combination of factors, including insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s muscle, fat, and liver cells do not use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can no longer produce enough insulin to compensate for the impaired ability to use insulin. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may develop gradually and can be subtle; some people with type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed for years.

Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older people who are also overweight or obese. The disease, once rare in youth, is becoming more common in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Scientists think genetic susceptibility and environmental factors are the most likely triggers of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease you get when there is excessive glucose (sugar) in your blood. Diabetes leads to serious health problems if left untreated.

Screening Guidelines for Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association created guidelines to screen for diabetes at the earliest possible appropriate time. Take a look at these guidelines to find out when to get tested for diabetes:

• People with symptoms of thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss are tested immediately.
• People over age 45 should be tested every three years if otherwise normal.
• People should be tested at a younger age and more often if:
• They are obese.
• They have a parent or sibling with diabetes.
• They are from a high-risk group, such as African American, Hispanic, Asian Indian, or Native American.
• They have delivered a baby over 9 pounds or had gestational diabetes.
• They have high blood pressure.
• They have low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides.

Effects of Diabetes:

If not controlled, diabetes can put you at risk for a host of complications that can affect nearly every organ in the body. They include:

·         The heart and blood vessels

·         The eyes

·         The kidneys

·         The nerves

·         The gums and teeth

Prevention of Diabetes:

When it comes to type 2 diabetes — the most common type of diabetes — prevention is a big deal. It's especially important to make diabetes prevention a priority if you're at increased risk of diabetes, for example, if you're overweight or have a family history of the disease.

Diabetes prevention is as basic as eating more healthfully, becoming more physically active and losing a few extra pounds — and it's never too late to start. Making a few simple changes in your lifestyle now may help you avoid the serious health complications of diabetes down the road, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage.

Tip 1: Get more physical activity

There are many benefits to regular physical activity. Exercise can help you:

• Helps you lose weight
• Helps to lower your blood sugar
• Boosts your sensitivity to insulin — which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range
• Research shows that both aerobic exercise and resistance training can help control diabetes, but the greater benefit comes from a fitness program that includes both.

Tip 2: Get plenty of fiber

It's rough, it's tough — and it may help you:

• Reduce your risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar control
• Lower your risk of heart disease
• Promote weight loss by helping you feel full
• Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Tip 3: Go for whole grains

Although it's not clear why, whole grains may reduce your risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels. Try to make at least half your grains whole grains. Many foods made from whole grains come ready to eat, including various breads, pasta products and many cereals. Look for the word "whole" on the package and among the first few items in the ingredient list.

Bottom Line:

• Diabetes Type 2 is a completely preventable disease
• Diabetes now has affected 7% of the world population
• Eating healthy and exercising cam help prevent diabetes type2
• Chronic uncontrolled diabetes can cause kidney failure, heart diseases and blindness