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Dr Sachin Mittal
MEET Mr Gupta, a 34-year-old IT professional, who was shocked to know that his fasting (empty stomach) blood sugar level, as diagnosed during routine health check-up, was more than 250 mg/dl. He found it hard to believe as he had none of the symptoms associated with diabetes — frequent urination or increased hunger or thirst.
His parents had diabetes and his fasting sugar in a similar check-up two years ago was borderline — about 120mg/dl. He had gained about 10 kg in the past 3-4 years. He has been trying to follow diet and exercise schedule, but hasn’t been consistent due to “job stress” and “erratic travel schedules”. Such cases are becoming increasingly common these days. What adds to their agony is the fact that they may have absolutely no symptoms associated with diabetes! The question that arises is whether the man was fated to become a diabetic at this age or it could have been prevented or at least delayed?
As per the International Diabetes Federation, India was home to at least 7.2 crore diabetic people in 2017 and the numbers are growing rapidly. If we include prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not enough to be labelled as diabetes, the numbers are much higher. Left on their own, many of those with prediabetes will develop diabetes.
We need to understand that Indians are prone to diabetes due to some high-risk genes. Adding to it the problem is fast food or junk food and living the life of a couch potato leading to obesity. Obesity leads to insulin resistance, a condition where our pancreas produces more insulin to keep our blood sugar normal) which can end up as prediabetes and subsequently type 2 diabetes. The risk of diabetes increases by 4.5 per cent for every kilogram gained above the ideal weight. This potentially bad combination of diabetes and obesity has been called as ‘diabesity’ by some and unfortunately, Chandigarh has one of highest number of diabetes and obesity in urban and rural areas, according to a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
There is an alarming increase in Obesity in children leading to more and more cases of type 2 diabetes among teens and youngsters. In a nutshell, the risk of getting type-2 diabetes is higher in those with a family history of diabetes, or who are obese or had diabetes during pregnancy or have a polycystic ovarian disease.
But unlike Mr Gupta, if you have prediabetes, you can prevent type 2 diabetes or at least delay it. Following simple changes in diet and regular physical activity — at least 150 minutes per week — can do wonders to your health. Choose nutritious high-fibre diet where you include more complex carbohydrates. Managing weight is important and if you are overweight, even losing up to seven per cent of body weight can drastically cut down the risk of developing diabetes. There are medications available which can drastically reduce the chances of moving from prediabetes to diabetes stage.
Preventing or delaying diabetes can actually mean preventing or delaying deadly complications such as heart attacks, stroke, eye and kidney damage. Prediabetes should actually be considered as a window of opportunity to prevent diabetes.
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