Early care goes a long way

According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 415 million adults were living with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in ten adults by 2040. According to doctors, nowadays more young adults between 20-30 years of age are getting affected with Type 2 diabetes.

Even though, there is no cure for diabetes, apt precautionary measures and lifestyle modifications, can help prevent diabetes or at least manage it better without affecting a patient’s normal life.

If you have a family history of diabetes, history of gestational (in pregnancy) diabetes, history of polycystic ovary disease, obesity and increased waist circumference (90 cm in men and 80 cm in women), are physically inactive, etc. then you come under the high risk category and hence it’s important that you are extra cautious. Healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way in preventing diabetes.

According to a study conducted by International Diabetes Federation (IDF), up to 70% of Type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthier lifestyle that includes healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco.

For people who have been diagnosed with prediabetes, it is important to understand that it doesn’t mean you already have diabetes and hence simple changes in lifestyle can help delay the onset of diabetes.

In many cases, people who are at borderline diabetes, can achieve normal sugar levels with lifestyle modification. One should watch their carb intake and control the portions of their meal. At the same time, it’s important to add more fiber-rich foods in your diet.