China Daily: Growing waistlines increase diabetes risk

Source: ChinaDaily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-11/11/content_8950067.htm

Read the news today, it said.

Every hour China sees 115 new cases of diabetes, Chinese scientists and doctors revealed at the 13th Annual Conference of the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in Zhengzhou, Henan province, last week.

Home to about 41 million diabetics, China has the world's second-largest diabetic population, after India. Also, those with Type-2 diabetics in China are much younger (aged between 20 and 59) than their counterparts in the West, according to a 2007 survey by the International Diabetes Federation.

By having 115 new cases per hour which equals to 2,760 a day and 1,007,400 a year. A Boeing 747 aircraft, nickname “Jumbo Jet”, can carry 550 passengers which is held the passenger capacity record for 37 years until A380 superjumbo has been developed. For 1,007,400 persons, it needs 1832 Boeing 747 to hold them. How many Boeing 747 we need for 41 million? A380 can carry 850 passengers, it needs 5.5millions and that’s for Chinese’s diabetes patients only. What about the rest of the world? Diabetes is a huge health issue.

Being a diabetic patient, they have to keep monitoring the blood glucose levels constantly. Some of them can do it by dieting. Some of them have to take drugs. Some of them need to have insulin injection. Diabetes mellitus is the most common single cause of kidney failure. Eventually, kidney transplant is necessary or undergo dialysis, an artificial blood-cleaning process, for the rest of their life.

Besides kidney failure, diabetes can also damage the nerves, eyes, kidney, heart and blood vessels.

• Heart attack - people with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to develop heart disease.
• Stroke - people with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have a stroke.
• Kidney failure - people with type 2 diabetes develop kidney damage at three times the rate of people who do not have type 2 diabetes.
• Blindness - eye damage caused by type 2 diabetes (retinopathy) affects one in six people with type 2 diabetes and is the most common form of blindness in adults aged 30–60 years.
• Amputation - people with type 2 diabetes are 15 times more likely to have an amputation.

Personally, I know people who their legs have been cut due to the blood vessels were damaged by diabetes. Some friend’s friends are blinded. It is a very serious issue if you are not take care of it.

The good news is “Diabetes is preventable” and you have to take actions. It continues to say…

By 2002, 23 percent of the Chinese population was deemed overweight, which is 28 times the number in 1985. And obesity has long been a major factor in Type-2 diabetes, Ji says. Lifestyle changes in the early years offer the best bet against potential risks, he adds.
…
Maintaining a healthy weight, cutting out all fatty foods, adding dietary fiber, and engaging in intensive physical activities twice or thrice a week, says Jaakko, can reduce the risk of having diabetes by up to 58 percent.

Those with diabetes should keep to a healthy diet of fruit, vegetable, coarse food grains, such as whole wheat bread, beans and low fat milk, experts suggest.
Saying no to foods with sugar or carbohydrates will not have the desired effect, Dr Ji says. Normal intake of foods, such as pumpkin, carrot or even watermelon has little impact on blood sugar.

"Diabetes should be emphasized as a 'public health problem' and should exercise the whole of society. Financial support from the government [to fight it] is crucial," Ji says.

So Do Not Wait. Start Today! Do something!

Wish you all a Healthy and Prosperous Life. And Diabetes Never Come to You!!!