Prevention of Diabetes

Diabetes is a major health problem all over the world. Diabetes is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Heart attacks and paralytic strokes occur 2-3 times more commonly, renal failure is 17 times more common in diabetics and blindness is 20 times more common among diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is rising steadily in epidemic proportions. With increasing longevity, changing life styles, increasing food intake and decreasing physical activity the prevalence is bound to increase all round the world there were an estimated 100 million diabetics all over the world in 1994. It was expected to reach 130 million by 2000 AD and 339 million by 2010. That is going to be double the number 5 in less than a decade. Only half of these persons are aware that they are diabetics.

All major public health problems in the past have been won by prevention of diabetes and it should be our endeavor to achieve the same with diabetes. Current research is focused on prevention of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The next best step is early detection and prompts treatment of diabetes. Current research has conclusively proved the importance of tight of control in preventing its complications. In those who have development complications control will prevent their progression.

Treatment of diabetes includes education, diet, self monitoring and medication and all this regularly supervised through follow up. However, it certainly appears that diabetes education is the corner stone in optimal care.

An improvement in life style itself is effective and cheap intervention without side effects. Several studies have shown that an increase in physical activity and the reduction of excess weight will reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood glucose, blood pressure and excess in blood lipids. The overall risk is further reduced by stopping of smoking and avoidance of excessive alcohol intake.

MESSAGES

Once a diabetic always a diabetic. Hence, regular treatment for life long.
Good control of diabetes prevents development of its complications and arrests progression.
Good control ensures healthy and prolonged life free of complications.
Diabetes itself is preventable.

Prevention of diabetes

Children born to diabetic parents and those who have close relatives as diabetics form a high risk group.
Obese individual are prone to diabetes.
Women who have given birth to large babies or who have a bad obstetric history are also in a high risk.
When the parents and grand parents both are diabetic, then these children tend to develop diabetes at a younger age of 15-25 years.

Individuals belonging to any of these high risk groups should modify their life style. They should exercise regularly and keep their weight within normal range. They should also keep a regular check on the blood sugar level after the age of 25 years in order to ensure early detection.