There are about 140 million patients with this disease in my country, and about half of them are "unaware" of it. How can we prevent it in our daily life?

Diabetes is not new to everyone. How is it caused? Which is the main cause: lifestyle or genetics?

Currently, one in ten adults in the world suffers from diabetes. There are about 140 million diabetes patients in China, and about half of them are "unaware" of their condition.

Diabetes does not develop overnight. In fact, more than half of type 2 diabetes can be completely prevented. In order to prevent diabetes, what aspects should we start with?

More than half of diabetes patients don’t know about it?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels, which seriously threatens the health of Chinese residents.

Diabetes is divided into four categories, namely type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), special types of diabetes and gestational diabetes, among which type 2 diabetes is the most common type clinically.

Polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia and weight loss, namely "three mores and one less", are typical symptoms of diabetes. However, more than half of patients often have no obvious symptoms when their blood sugar level rises at first. But as the disease progresses, it can cause various harms to the body, and in severe cases it can be life-threatening.

What is more terrible than diabetes itself is the complications . If you do not pay attention to controlling blood sugar, it will cause diabetic retinopathy, stroke, diabetic neuropathy, heart disease, diabetic nephropathy and other complications in the later stage. In severe cases, it can cause myocardial infarction, uremia, blindness, amputation...

A person who has typical symptoms of diabetes and meets any of the following conditions can be diagnosed with diabetes:

1. Blood glucose ≥11.1 mmol /L at any time of the day;

2. Fasting blood glucose level ≥7.0mmol/L;

3. Blood glucose level ≥11.1 mmol /L 2 hours after oral glucose tolerance test;

4. Glycated hemoglobin ≥6.5%.

Those without typical symptoms of diabetes need to be rechecked on another day.

The so-called prediabetes refers to people whose fasting blood sugar level is between 6.1mmol/L-7.0mmol/L; or whose oral glucose tolerance test is between 7.8mmol/L-11.1mmol/L 2 hours later.

How do you get diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by abnormal human metabolism due to lack of insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance under the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. Although diabetes is related to genetics, it is also closely related to acquired bad habits.

Young people are diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes, which is related not only to genetic factors but also to unhealthy lifestyles, such as long-term consumption of high-fat, high-sugar and overly refined diets, long periods of sitting and little exercise, low physical activity leading to overweight or obesity, high stress, lack of sleep, and irregular work and rest schedules.

Diabetes, how to prevent it in daily life?

Diabetes is a silent killer and should be screened, diagnosed and treated early!

It is recommended to diversify food, eat a fixed amount of staple food, and give priority to whole grains and foods with a low glycemic index.

Vegetables should be included in every meal, with a daily vegetable intake of about 500g, of which dark vegetables account for more than 1/2. Ensure adequate milk and soybeans, eat fish and poultry regularly, and eat eggs and livestock meat in moderation, but reduce the intake of fat meat and eat less processed meat products such as smoked, baked, and pickled meat.

Control the amount of salt, sugar and oil used and cultivate a light taste.

The daily consumption of cooking oil should be controlled within 25g. The daily consumption of salt should not exceed 5g. Pay attention to limiting the use of condiments and foods with high salt content such as soy sauce, chicken essence, monosodium glutamate, pickles, and bacon. Do not drink sugary drinks, and limit the amount of fruit.

I have seen a young diabetic patient who drank milk tea and carbonated drinks when he was thirsty for a long time. When he came to the hospital, his blood sugar was above 18mmol/L. So we advise people, especially those at high risk of diabetes, not to drink too many beverages.

To avoid developing diabetes, you should quit smoking and drink less, get enough sleep, and eliminate all bad habits. It is recommended to eat a low-sugar, low-salt, low-fat, high-fiber, high-vitamin diet, and keep doing physical exercise to keep your weight at a normal level for a long time. Aerobic exercise plus resistance is better than aerobic exercise alone. Exercising for 30 minutes a day is a better choice.

Why shouldn't diabetics drink alcohol?

Alcohol can only provide calories and almost no other nutrients. It may also affect normal eating and is not conducive to diet control;

Long-term and heavy drinking can cause alcoholic fatty liver, acute gastritis, acute pancreatitis, etc.

If diabetic patients drink a lot of alcohol on an empty stomach, they are prone to hypoglycemia.

Kind tips:

1. If young diabetics fail to control their blood sugar levels well in the early stages, they will gradually develop various complications after middle age, which will affect their life expectancy and quality of life.

2. People at high risk should pay more attention to prevention and regularly test their blood sugar to detect asymptomatic diabetes as early as possible.

3. Hypoglycemia during diabetes treatment is also very dangerous. It is recommended to carry foods that increase blood sugar levels quickly to help prevent hypoglycemia. It is recommended to exercise after breakfast to better control blood sugar levels. Exercising on an empty stomach increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

If recurring hypoglycemia occurs, seek medical attention promptly to assess the cause of the hypoglycemia and adjust the treatment plan.