Diabetes And Its Increasing Prevalence Amongst Younger Population

Being diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus has a deep long-lasting effect on the sufferer. Early-onset Diabetes/ Insulin-dependent Diabetes/Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, which often occurs in children and teenagers represents their premier experience of the disease. Even in adults, diabetes brings along a wave of other complications – cardiovascular diseases, diseases related to the eyes, frequent non-healing injuries, to name a few. The most challenging task is to cope with the knowledge that diabetes is now curable. If not curtailed then it can be a life-long slow killer.

Type-2 diabetes is caused due to lifestyle factors and is now commonly found in the younger generation in all ages and has an increasing impact with increasing of the patient and disease. The sooner one becomes diabetic the more the chance of getting its complications, i.e – complications and severity of diabetes are directly proportional to its chronicity. And this happens when the sugars are uncontrolled. The control of sugars is an ongoing process like our life and breathing cycle, so our endurance for normal sugars has to be constant. Once a labelled diabetic always a labelled diabetic! But a labelled diabetic is classified as controlled and uncontrolled. The controlled diabetic has the ability to hold the progression of the complications while the uncontrolled diabetics don’t have it. Hence whether we are type I or type II diabetic most important is to be a CONTROLLED DIABETIC.

The other most important notion to be corrected is that Diabetes is no more an incurable sugar disease, but it is a disease of excess eating and can be completely controlled and thus cured.

According to the data from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR’s), the prevalence of diabetes was highest in Chandigarh followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Again, the prevalence of prediabetes was highest in Chandigarh followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand. They claim a nearly equal gender distribution of DM, more incidences with lower educational status and more in occupations with physical labour. The incidence of pre-diabetic, diabetics, uncontrolled diabetics and metabolic syndrome were higher in the urban population than in rural. The incidence of DM increased with increasing age.

People can often manage type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic phase through:

· a change to a healthy controlled diet

· routine and regular exercise

· maintaining a healthy weight and BMI

· Complying with a recommended line of treatment by healthcare professionals

Symptoms

Some symptoms are common to both types of diabetes.

The most common symptoms of diabetes among include:

· increased thirst and urination

· hunger

· fatigue

· irritability

· fruity smell of the breath

· menstrual irregularity

· frequent infections

Prevention

It is not currently possible to prevent type 1 diabetes, but a person can take steps to reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes:

Maintaining a healthy weight: Overweight children are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as they are more likely to have insulin resistance.

Staying active: Keeping physically active reduces insulin resistance and helps manage blood pressure.

Limiting food and drinks containing high sugar levels: Consuming lots of foods that are high in sugar can lead to weight gain. Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, with plenty of vitamins, fibre and lean proteins, will lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The article has been contributed by Amol Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus

Amol Naikawadi

Guest Author The author is a Joint - Managing Director and Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus.