- By Prerna Targhotra
- Sat, 16 Nov 2024 05:13 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ways To Reduce Diabetes Risk: India is the world’s second largest diabetes capital with 75 million people suffering from the disease in 2021 and this figure is expected to increase to 125 million by 2045. Diabetes is a complex condition that can affect all the organs of the body and cause complications. Dr Supriya Malhotra Senior Consultant - Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Fortis La Femme shared her expert advice on managing the risk of passing diabetes to future generations.
Three Types Of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, It is also known as Juvenile Diabetes. This type often appears during adolescence but can develop at any age. In this type, genetic factors are highly implicated. The second is type two diabetes which is the most common affecting 90% of all diabetes, also known as maturity-onset diabetes. The third is Gestational diabetes which develops during the later stages of pregnancy and usually becomes normal once pregnancy ends.
Dr. Supriya emphasised “Having a family history of any type of diabetes ultimately leads to a higher risk of developing diabetes but that does not necessarily mean that the person has suffered from it.”
In type one diabetes genetic factors play an important role. Type two diabetes is a maturity-onset diabetes, while it is widely believed that genetic factors can play a role in contributing to it, the experts suggest that lifestyle factors like nutrition and physical activity are a more significant contributor to it.
Increased incidence of this type of diabetes is seen in patients more than 45 years of age, people having high body mass index, those who have a sedentary lifestyle, have high waist circumference, have deranged lipid profiles and high blood pressure. Also, females who suffer from polycystic ovarian disease and those who develop gestational diabetes in pregnancy.
These people who know that they are at an increased risk of developing the disease can often take steps to reduce their risks of developing diabetes and passing it on to future generations. Steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of passing on diabetes to future generations.
Steps To Reduce Your Risk
1. Getting genetic testing done wherever indicated.
2. Mothers continue breastfeeding till 6 to 8 months of age and also decrease exposure to infection in their offspring by proper vaccination and following healthy hygiene practices.
3. Getting screening tests done at an early age to diagnose prediabetic conditions which then can be prevented from developing into full-blown diabetes by adopting suitable lifestyle changes like maintaining healthy body weight, keeping physically active by getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week, eating healthy foods and a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and fibre, avoiding sugary drinks and processed foods, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.
In conclusion, we can say that diabetes is highly widespread in the Indian population. It is a disease with a tendency to cause widespread complications. However, making appropriate lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing the onset of diabetes in susceptible persons and also preventing transmission of the same.