World Diabetes Day: Importance of managing the disease

India is currently staring at a high prevalence of n-communicable diseases (NCDs). Of all se, diabetes, perhaps poses biggest risk.

An uncontrolled and poorly or unmand diabetes can cause various health complications, furr leing to mortality.

Uncontrolled diabetes dams blood vessels over time and makes a person two to three times more susceptible to problems, such as coronary heart disease.

Experts, on World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated on vember 14, said that awareness needs to be raised on importance of maintaining blood glucose levels through appropriate lifestyle modifications and effective manment of diabetes.

India currently represents 49 percent of world's diabetes burden, with an estimated 72 million cases, a figure expected to almost double to 134 million by 2025.

Dr Maj Kumar of Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi, said, "When diabetes remains uncontrolled, it can cause a range of or potential health complications including heart disease. Some factors that can exacerbate this condition include hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, tobacco use, and physical inactivity."

He ded, "People living with diabetes, refore, should be aided in controlling blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin with available resources. Education on minimizing risks and omitting avoidable risk factors is also imperative. Apart from this, following correct medication schedule and making certain lifestyle changes to lower cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes is absolutely a must."

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Pma Shri awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India, furr stated that 2 diabetes is increasingly becoming common among younger Indians. He said that this puts m at a greater risk of life-threatening complications including kidney dam and heart disease.

"Apart from usual culprits such as an unhealthy eating pattern and inactivity, t undertaking preventive health checkups in a timely manner is also a big risk factor. re is also a belief that because young people with 2 diabetes do t need insulin, it is t as sinister as it seems. However, this is a false tion. This condition requires immediate treatment and manment. This is more so because a young person with 2 diabetes may have symptoms or y may be very mild," said Aggarwal.

Apart from lifestyle changes and timely health tests, operating as a team and a family in opting a healthy routine right at outset is much more likely to be successful in preventing or managing diabetes. Here are some tips to keep yourself healthy:

- Indulge in regular physical activity for about 30 minutes every day for weight loss, reducing blood sugar levels, and boosting insulin sensitivity

- Eat healthy food that is rich in fibre such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and nuts. Avoid packd and processed food

- Smoking and alcohol are major risk factors and should be avoided

-Get your blood sugar levels checked timely, especially if you have a family history of condition. This will help you in taking preventive action at earliest 

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