Dr. Ali Alharbi, Nephrologist and Country Medical Director at Diaverum
Given the fact that some 350 million people worldwide today live with diabetes, it is not surprising at all that the 2016 edition of World Health Day on April 7 will focus on this prevalent lifestyle condition and examine steps that need to be taken on a war footing to prevent its spread.
In a rapidly changing urban world, unhealthy lifestyle choices have led to catastrophic health issues. In the bargain, one in every 7 people around the world is deemed diabetic. While type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents was once considered to be rare, reports show that these numbers have also increased exponentially worldwide.
Unfortunately in Saudi Arabia the outlook is not any better. As someone who has been closely associated with healthcare developments, specifically in the field of nephrology, I have observed a high incidence of the condition especially among the country’s youth largely due to their sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits - preferring fast-food to healthier meal options.
Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of all diabetes occurrences worldwide, is the result of having too much glucose - also known as sugar - in the blood. As time goes by, your pancreas may secrete less insulin or becomes unable to cope with the huge amount of sugar in the body, which will make it harder to keep your blood sugar within the recommended levels. If you do not manage to get your blood sugar under control and the count stays too high for too long, you could end up with several other health complications. For instance, diabetes can lead to chronic kidney disease, which occurs when your kidneys are no longer able to clean your blood and detoxify your body effectively.
In Saudi Arabia, as is the case with many other developed countries worldwide, type 2 diabetes is the number one cause of renal failure. Within the country, 40 % of dialysis patients are diabetic and undergo dialysis 3 times per week. Aside from renal failure, other complications that can arise due to diabetes include permanent blindness, amputation and cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and chronic skin disease.
While these statistics may seem alarming, what some people perhaps fail to realize is that diabetes and its related health issues are, in most cases, preventable. I usually tell my patients that to lead a healthy lifestyle, the solution is three-fold. First, it’s important to keep your weight within the recommended range. Studies have shown that being overweight or obese significantly increases your chances of developing diabetes. Second, the quality of the food you eat is also an important factor. What this means is that by making healthy food choices you can make yourself less vulnerable to diabetes and its related side-effects. Lastly, if your daily routine is mostly sedentary you should aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day.
So what can you do if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes? The good news is - all is not lost! Looking at the big picture, if you make the necessary lifestyle changes and follow your doctor’s orders, you can continue to lead a normal life. In addition to following the healthy lifestyle choices listed earlier, you need to keep your blood pressure under control and your blood sugar levels in check. Also, while it’s important to make healthy food choices, diabetics have special dietary needs that require them to eat less carbohydrates, sugar, salt and fat than their non-diabetic counterparts.
People who have a family history of obesity and diabetes need to manage their health at a very early stage in life. If you are concerned that you are leading an unhealthy lifestyle that may trigger the onset of diabetes, taking early preventative steps in consultation with your doctor can significantly reduce your risk and ensure you stay on track to good health and overall well-being.
