Our grandparents usually possess a gamut of medications, for various health issues that come with age — small pink tablets to sleep at night, drops for constipation and balms for aches and pains and insulin to counter diabetes.
But did you know that diabetes, usually associated with grand parents, is rapidly transcending generations and now afflicting grandchildren. One would think that with progression in the wealth of scientific and medical knowledge, younger generations are less vulnerable but this is hardly the case. And while medical science is progressing rapidly, our sedentary modern lifestyles have predisposed young people to the disease.
Diabetes mellitus is impairment in the way the body utilises carbohydrates due to decreased effectiveness or inadequate production of the hormone insulin. Diabetes mellitus type II, the form which was formerly mostly seen in adults, is now becoming more prevalent in the youth. The glucose extracted from the diet runs rampant in the blood, unable to enter the cells without the help of insulin. It’s a disease that spans the entire lifetime with progressive increase in the strength of medications administered to achieve adequate blood glucose control. Factors, which predispose one to the disease, are basically dependent on the interplay of genetic and environmental influences. Though the primary reason why diabetes is striking earlier on in life is because of our eating habits and a less than active lifestyle. Countering these two alone can have a huge role in averting diabetes all together.
Living with diabetes is difficult, more so if the patient is young. Doctors specializing in the care of diabetes are endocrinologists. As diabetes is a chronic condition, choose your doctors wisely. There will be frequent follow up visits initially along with various blood tests. Blood sugars will need to be monitored at home and a chart will need to be maintained. The first and foremost measure diabetics are advised to take is control their diet and exercise. Meals should contain a minimal portion of fats, processed and fast food. Fruits, vegetables with complex carbohydrates, like starch and whole grains, should form the major component of dietary intake. The body takes longer to metabolize these and hence a steady level of glucose can be kept up. Learning to count calories will be of assistance especially when eating out. Meal timings will need to be fixed or alternatively can be substituted by multiple small meals throughout the day. Oral tablets might be added if the diabetes is not well managed. These might be given in addition to insulin shots which are added at a later stage. Weight loss surgery is also gaining popularity in the country, though it is a measure undertaken by only a handful.
Chronic diabetes can affect a number of organs including heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. It increases the risk of comorbid conditions regardless of the fact that the patient is young. Feet can be damaged and oral health imperiled. As the cliché goes, prevention is better than cure in the case of diabetes. Half an hour of daily exercise, healthier meal plans and weight loss can actually have a positive impact in mitigating the disease.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2012.
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I have and objection on the point "diabetes, usually associated with grand parents" its not their fault it was just the lack of knowledge.