DIABETES AND LIFESYTLE

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease condition that is characterized by a marked increase in blood sugar level—hyperglycemia due to lack of sufficient insulin or poor body cell response to insulin. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and many other complications around the world. The World Health Organization reports that over 400 million persons are currently living with diabetes mellitus, and about 1.5 million deaths in 2019 were due to uncontrolled diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is also a major cause of many health complications including blindness, kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and limbs amputation. Diabetes mellitus can be due to genetic predisposition, family history, age and underlying disease conditions. However, poor lifestyle habits are the major culprit in the onset of diabetes mellitus.

There is a strong relationship between lifestyle habits and most non-communicable diseases. Lifestyle habits can slow, increase, or prevent the onset of many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle habits are modifiable risk factors that can be changed by risk populations.

The following lifestyle habits can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes mellitus:

1.    Physical Activity

Regular exercise is a healthy lifestyle habit against many non-communicable diseases including diabetes mellitus. Taking a short stroll, using the stair case, working out in a gym, and increasing physical locomotive actions are good and easy habits to improve your physical activity.

2.    Healthy Diet

Eating food that are rich in dietary fiber, fruits, and vegetables is very important in the prevention of diabetes mellitus. Reducing salt intake, opting for non-carbohydrate diets, eating less sugary junks and drinking water is also very important.

3.    Avoiding Tobacco

Smoking tobacco is one of the leading cause of many non-communicable diseases. Avoiding smoking helps against diabetes mellitus.

4.   Avoiding Harmful Use of Alcohol

Using alcohol inappropriately can lead to diabetes mellitus and other non-communicable diseases.

5.    Treating Underlying Diseases

One disease can cause complications that will lead to other diseases. Diabetes mellitus is a co-morbid disease of hypertension, renal failure and pancreatic diseases. One can have these disease conditions without having diabetes mellitus. However, negligence in the management of these diseases can lead to diabetes mellitus.

Lifestyle changes are the best means of preventing diabetes mellitus. Humans must develop personal health discipline, routines and habits that will keep them healthy and free from diabetes mellitus. In addition, if you already have diabetes mellitus, these lifestyle changes will help your management and recovery.

-Ngwoke Ifeanyi

Coordinator for Healthcare, Northeast Region, Nigeria Chapter