Obesity and Type-2 Diabetes

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess fat accumulates in parts of body leading to adverse health effects. Diabetes is more appropriately known as diabetes mellitus (DM). 

DM is a metabolic disorder in which the blood glucose level increases beyond a normal range; the greater are the increased levels and the DM duration, the more serious it can become if it isleft untreated.

DM exists in several forms: type-1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), type-2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), and gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy.

                                                                

Type-1 diabetes results mostly in children due to auto-immune destruction of insulin producing beta cells present in the Island of Langerhans of the pancreas gland. 

Type-2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder which occurs in adults as a result of insulin resistance. It is considered as a disease linked to unhealthy lifestyle and obesity in the adults; people genetically predisposed are more vulnerable to be affected by the disease.

Linked to obesity, type-2 diabetes can be prevented and controlled by weight management within the limits of body mass index (BMI) of an individual. If untreated, diabetes can lead to serious consequences such as damage to the nervous system, heart and kidneys. It can even cause increased vulnerability to infections and other diseases, even to some forms of cancers.

How can we prevent diabetes? While there is no known means to prevent from type-1 diabetes, the type-2 diabetes can be prevented because it is closely linked to unhealthy lifestyle caused by faulty diet, sedentary life and lack of regular exercise.

The control of type-2 diabetes at all stages of the disease is best achieved by weight reduction, proper diet intake, healthy lifestyle, treatment and care.

The prevention strategy for type-2 diabetes is primarily healthy and nutritious diet comprising fibrous vegetarian contents (cereals, nuts, whole grain, and brown bread), lean/white meat, unsaturated fats and low salt. 

Saturated trans fats must be fully avoided. In addition active lifestyle and regular physical exercise are necessary.

Increased thirst, hunger, urination, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness or tingling sensation of feet and hands, loss of weight, non-healing sores, are some most prominent symptoms of diabetes. 

Increased body weight is a visible sign and precursor of imminent type-2 diabetes in a span of 5 to 10 years.

Treatment for type-2 diabetes will depend upon the status of the disease. In early cases the disease can be controlled by adopting a healthy lifestyle, directed at weight reduction, involving fibrous and nutritive diet and regular exercise.

In cases where blood sugar level is not controlled by lifestyle changes, physician may be consulted to prescribe blood sugar lowering drugs or treatment with insulin hormone.

In type-2 diabetes it is absolutely necessary to take appropriate treatment for any other accompanying disease like high blood pressure and arthritis; arthritis can limit movement and thus increase body weight and aggravate diabetes. Treatment should also be taken for any complication of diabetes such as foot ulcers.

Patients must comply with a regular schedule for exercise, reduce body weight as per the prescribed limit for the patients’ BMIindex, eat only healthy and nutritious diet as per a diet chart and take all prescribed medication regularly.

Diet is the most important aspect of diabetes control. There is no single diet plan for all patients. The contents of carbohydrates, fat, and proteins need to be individualized for each patient according to the patient’s individual metabolic status such as weight loss needs, blood lipid levels, renal function and blood pressure. 

As carbohydrates fast increase blood sugar, carbohydrate counting is necessary for determining total calories intake and total calories control. 

Everybody above 45 years age must check for type-2 diabetes or pre-diabetes indications. People above the prescribed body weight for their BMI index are especially vulnerable to the disease.

Treatment under medical supervision is recommended for proper control and management of the disease.