Page 8 - Diabetes Mirror

Table 2: List of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for diabetes7
Unmodifiable risk factors
• Genetics
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Age
Eat healthy, avoid smoking and
exercise regularly. Well, all know the
importance of this. If you don’t do
them, you may have to bend backwards
to beat the consequences of a highly
probable diabetes. International clinical implement lifestyle changes and seek
recommendations point out that
overweight and obese individuals aged
between 35 to 70 years must be screened
for abnormal glucose and diabetes and
the testing must be repeated every
three years if the results are normal.8
While, obesity and overweight are
strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, a sure shot way to beat the impact of
not every overweight person may get
diabetes. Don’t panic or worry if you are
overweight. Be prudent and speak to your
doctor to be safe.
Also be aware of a condition called
prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition
Mantra 2: Comply with
Prescribed Treatments
If a person has diabetes, then it is
important to comply with treatment
for maintaining normal blood glucose
levels. Monitoring blood glucose levels,
healthy eating, regular exercise and
avoidance of smoking are important
aspects of treating diabetes. Based on
the specific requirements, doctors may
prescribe Insulin and other oral diabetes around, you should not fall prey to
medications. You will accept that
complying with these medications and
lifestyle changes is important. However,
non-compliance is a major problem in
management of diabetes. If side-effects
6 I BETES MIRROR
Tantras
and Yantras
Modifiable risk factors for Beating
Diabetes
• Overweight/obesity
• Poor diet Just type Apps for diabetes in
• Hypertension Google and you will find a whole
• Smoking lot of apps for giving you information
• Physical inactivity. and many different forms of
assistance such as for diabetes
in which a person has elevated blood prevention, lifestyle changes, blood
glucose levels but is not abnormal glucose monitoring and reminders
enough to called as diabetes.9 During for taking medications. Speak to your
the routine health checks, if prediabetes doctor if you need any assistance
is noted, then it is time to strictly in choosing these apps. Remember
the mantra for beating diabetes
appropriate medical advice. Several is to become aware of diabetes,
mobile applications are now available regularly monitoring blood glucose
to help people for preventing diabetes levels, living a healthy lifestyle and
and monitoring blood glucose levels. complying with doctor’s advise
Speak to your doctor for any specific and treatment. Several easy-to-use
recommendations. Remember, technologies are available on smart
prevention is better than cure and is phones and devices, described in
more detail in this issue. Use them
diabetes without bending backwards. prudently.
Apologies if you thought this was high-
school knowledge but ask yourself, why
can’t we implement this high school
knowledge.
of a medication are causing one to
stop treatment or there are difficulties
in adopting lifestyle changes, doctors
can be of real help. If forgetfulness is
causing non-compliance, well you have
your family members, many mobile apps
and Alexa to remind you. With Doctors,
your family members and technology
non-compliance, isn’t it? Remember if
you don’t comply, you will have to bend
backwards to manage the macrovascular
and microvascular complications.