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Diabetes today

A recent study from the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, found that the risk factors associated with diabetes and prediabetes prevalence are rapidly increasing in South Africa.

In South Africa to date, around 4.58 million have been diagnosed with diabetes. In 2019, diabetes statistics in particular almost tripled from 4.5% in 2010 to 12.7%, and prevalence figures among men and women showed that 67% (across both groups) were found to be pre-diabetic. Additionally, of the millions of people diagnosed with diabetes, an estimated 52.4% of them (between 20 and 79 years old) were undiagnosed at the time of testing (International Diabetes Federation, 2020).

However, despite the alarming numbers, individuals across the variables of interest assessed could reverse the effects and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their lifestyle.

With the aim of addressing chronic disease by increasing access to necessary lifestyle and healthcare information, doctors and physicians have shared what they wish patients (and the public) knew about preventing type 2 diabetes.

1. Type 1 and Type 2 are different

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where your body no longer makes enough insulin which exists to allow the cells in the muscles, fat and liver to absorb glucose that is in the blood. As a consequence, the body can’t process glucose properly because there’s not enough insulin. Without insulin, certain metabolic processes in your body start to deteriorate over time. In particular, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells and is unable to use the glucose for energy. This leads to the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body does not appropriately respond to or regulate your insulin. Your body is then unable to process glucose normally because there is unrestricted insulin signalling. This results in elevated blood glucose levels and other complications that lead to the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

2. You can reduce your risk

Though studies continue around the treatment of type 1 diabetes, to date those diagnosed must manage the condition by taking insulin to control their blood sugar. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is largely preventable by making positive lifestyle changes, such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and lowering risks of obesity and overweight by maintaining a healthy weight. These activities remain key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.

Making these changes can be difficult or uncomfortable but there is no use in playing the “blame game”. For example, if you can identify that you are pre-diabetic or have other risk factors such as obesity, then you should work on strategies to reduce your risk – more importantly, you don’t have to do this alone. Finding support from friends, family, and your doctor with a lifestyle management plan can make all the difference to help you stay on track.

3. Take pre-diabetes seriously

Pre-diabetes isn’t harmless and is probably the single most predictive risk factor to determine who could develop type 2 diabetes. With many people undiagnosed, and so many others sitting with blood glucose levels hovering just below the type 2 diabetes threshold, taking pre-diabetes seriously (and taking action) is an important step in the prevention of developing diabetes. Get serious and get checked.

4. There are health inequity issues

The reality is that people who have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes are at a much higher risk, as well as people who struggle with obesity and overweight. However, because of systematic inequalities around access to both education and appropriate, quality healthcare, people who identify as certain races and ethnicities also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In response, the efforts to reduce rising diabetes statistics become the responsibility of larger stakeholders, institutions, and the government. At each level and within their spheres of influence, they should act to facilitate and implement behavioural change and prevention strategies to address the related challenges and inequalities.

5. Monitor gestational diabetes

As a frequently overlooked group of people, women who had gestational diabetes when they were pregnant or women who have a history of gestational diabetes should monitor their levels as they are at a very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

It is important that both a women’s ob-gyn and primary care physician (and team) ensure that her information is available and communicated between them throughout her pregnancy to prevent or address any gestational diabetes risks that could occur.

6. Take care of your heart

Type 2 diabetes is a very difficult illness on your cardiovascular system and causes damage to your blood vessels throughout your body – within your heart, brain, legs, and kidney. Having long-term damage to your blood vessels also increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

You can keep your heart healthy by lowering high blood pressure, addressing high cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, and more. Your heart health matters.

7. Take small steps

Even when necessary, changing your lifestyle all at once is overwhelming which is why it shouldn’t be too drastic. Small steps and daily effort go a very long way to forming new habits toward living a healthier life. Set challenging but achievable goals, find an accountability partner or support group, and keep going step by step. In the end, this will help reduce your overall risk.

8. Get your family involved

Because diabetes tends to run in families, interventions that include the whole family are an excellent way to think about tackling type 2 diabetes risk factors. For example, by working together, families can help the person at risk by ensuring they do not feel isolated and excluded in dealing with their diabetes.

Everyone in the family can make the effort to eat healthy and nutritious food, hold each other accountable to maintain regular exercise routines, and support each other through difficult periods of the health journey of their at-risk family member. The healthier habits not only benefit the individual but can work for the family as a whole as well.

9. Reach out for guidance

If you or someone you know and love is at risk, you can contact your doctor for a consultation and ask about the preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk.

Your doctor will be able to help you implement healthy behaviour changes like improving your nutrition, getting more physical activity, achieving some weight loss, and working towards creating long-term strategies that support those positive behaviour changes.

They will also be able to guide you on a holistic and integrated approach to managing obesity or overweight that also can include potentially taking some medications or starting on a medical weight management journey to help address the challenges around obesity and overweight.

10. Take the risk test

If you are unsure about your own risk for type 2 diabetes, then consulting your doctor to take a risk test is the best place to start. If you are pre-diabetic, you should communicate with your doctor and take a blood test at least once a year to keep an eye on your risk status.

If you don’t have a diagnosis but may have risk factors, speak to your doctor about taking a blood test every three years to know what your status is.

Conclusion

Though the risk factors for diabetes and pre-diabetes are many and complicated, there are multiple strategies you can implement to both reduce and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. As individuals, we need to be aware of our diabetic status before health complications arise and take action.

Alongside individual efforts, it is even more important for all stakeholders, institutions, and government to get involved in providing education and creating awareness about diabetes and prevention strategies. While many challenges remain in the fight to prevent rising diabetes statistics, in the meantime, it is up to each person to keep themselves informed about their health, get regular tests for diabetes or pre-diabetes, and lead healthy lifestyles to give themselves the best chance to stay fighting fit.

#WorldDiabetesDay #LifestyleistheMedicine #HealthyLifestyle #Prevention #WeightManagment