How to prevent diabetes

Two Simple Things You Can Do To Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes vs Obesity

 

Lifestyle factors related to obesity, eating behaviour, and physical activity are playing a major role in the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases.

The World Health Organization alerts that obesity and chronic disease is increasing exponentially. The worldwide obesity rate tripled since 1975, and 39% of adults over 18 years were overweight in 2018.

Diabetes rates have risen from 108 million to 422 million in 2014 and Diabetes is expected to be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. There are currently 16 million Americans with diabetes, and in the next ten years, there will be 23 million Americans with this disease.

These alarming numbers are associated with the ageing of the population, sedentary lifestyle of modern societies and the high overweight and obesity rate. In the past, type 2 diabetes and obesity were diagnosed in individuals over 40 years of age, but the increasing numbers of childhood obesity have led to an increase in type 2 diabetes in young adults.

Lots of studies show that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are highly associated, and the chance of developing type 2 Diabetes increases exponentially.
There are genetic predisposition factors known for obesity and Diabetes, but the onset is influenced by the environment and the choices people make. Scientific evidence shows that the quantity and quality of physical activity can decrease the risk of diabetes onset significantly.

How to prevent type 2 diabetes?

Weight loss and increased physical activity can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. These two lifestyle factors can be helpful in Diabetes treatment as well as lowering Insulin Resistance and treating Glucose intolerance.

The straightforward and easy solution, isn’t it?

We all looking for a magic pill to solve our health issues! But how about this simple step that can prevent diabetes?
Can you commit to daily exercises and healthy eating? Only 10 min walking or running per day would be key to a healthier and happier life.

Why food seasonality and environment contribute to diabetes?

Like mentioned above, Type 2 Diabetes is known to be influenced by the environment. The environment factors in modern societies do not help encourage healthy eating habits and physical activity.

Eating cultures in our fast and globalized business world are poor, and many people have to eat on the run because of their stressful jobs and schedules. It may explain the poor effectiveness of nutritional programs which are being adapted to our modern lifestyle. The educational nutrition programs have limited and only temporary effectiveness because the environment makes it hard to follow the recommendations.

It is hard to follow a healthy diet if grocery stores do not sell healthy food abundantly and consistently at reasonable prices. If you go to the supermarket and buy healthy food, you will spend a fortune compared to what you will spend buying processed food.

Correlational data have suggested that environmental factors influence physical activity and eating. Studies found strong correlations between high caloric intake, overweight and the percentage of local grocery stores which sell processed food compared to better health in regions where shops sell whole food.

Environmental manipulations, like fitness machines in local parks and public spaces or signs to promote the use of stairs rather than elevators, have also been effective in changing physical activity patterns.

The high tech industry is producing applications to quantify calorie intake and physical activity, which can be very helpful to bring conscious awareness to people with overweight and diabetes.

 

How to influence and delay Type 2 Diabetes?

There is a proven strong association between lifestyle behaviours and the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

It is good news because, with the right motivation and strategy, obesity, and type 2 diabetes is preventable and treatable.

More attention by governmental institutions should be directed at issues related to the development of healthful eating and physical activity habits. If these healthy habits and lifestyle choices become a routine for most of the people, many debilitating diseases can be prevented.

The focus of public health initiatives should be on changing eating and physical activity pattern from an individual perspective and an environmental perspective.