Sunday, January 18, 2009

SILENT KILLER


Watch your waist is a good watch word on the occasion of the World Diabetes Day. Those who are obese are prone to type-II Diabetes, a condition that could lead to a considerably difficult lifestyle.
Speaking to Ergo ahead of the World Diabetes Day, which falls on November 14, the doctor, said sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits are the two major risk factors of type II diabetes and “the shocking fact is that over 30-40 percent of professionals in the age group of 25- 40 are diabetics.”
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there were an estimated 40 million people with diabetes in India in 2007 and this number is predicted to rise to almost 70 million people by 2025.
“We, the Asian Indians are genetically prone to diabetes than the other ethnic groups in the world. When an obese person with the family history of diabetes, follows an unhealthy food habit with minimum physical activity, he falls under the risk of developing diabetes,” the doctor said.
If the waist circumference of a man and woman reaches 90 cm and 85 cm respectively, they are termed as obese. When obesity is accompanied by mild increase in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, the condition is termed as metabolic syndrome.
This leads to insulin resistance or glucose intolerance, where the body cannot use insulin or blood sugar properly, the reason for type-II Diabetes.
The reason for obesity in IT professionals is their sleeping pattern, lack of physical activity, no exercise/ walking and improper eating habits. When a person works just opposite to the biological clock, like working at night and sleeping during day, his sleeping pattern and food timings are changed. Adding to this, junk foods and stress spoil health and make one obese.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of type II diabetes are frequent urination, thirst, fatigue, excessive hunger and sudden loss of weight.
Who should go for screening?
People with family history of diabetes and obese should go for a diabetes screening. Also women who gave birth to big babies and who had gestational diabetes should screen for type-II Diabetes.
Prevention
Prevention of diabetes is very simple. Shed your weight by proper exercise or walking. While in office avoid lift and opt for healthy food in canteen. Drink as much water as possible. Sleep well and eat at right time.

1 comment: