South Asians are four times more likely more likely to get diabetes than the general population. Over the age of 40 years, 1 in 5 of South Asians have diabetes.
Diabetes affects the whole body causing heart attack, stroke, blindness and kidney disease- leading to dialysis. The best approach to diabetes is to prevent it. This can be done by you following a healthy lifestyle. This starts with knowing your risk of getting diabetes - see the Diabetes Risk score on http://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk. Having a family member with diabetes, being overweight and being South Asian increases your risk!
A programme to prevent diabetes is actually straight forward: This would include:
1. Preventing the development of a large waistline by weight control and a good level of physical activity. Physical activity includes 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking at least 5 times a week. You should be a little hot and breathless when you go for a brisk walk.
2. Even if you are only a little overweight then weight control can be made a lot easier by a following a sensible diet. This means cutting down on carbohydrates such as any added sugar, rotis, rice and potatoes. Reducing carbohydrates and increasing protein a little often helps with losing weight.
What can I do if have if have diabetes already? What is the best way forward to reduce Diabetes problems such as kidney disease, heart attaches, strokes and blindness? It is important that you have all the checks for diabetes care that your doctor recommends every year. It is very important that you have your own personal goals for diabetes control, the blood pressure level and the cholesterol levels. It is also important to take your tablets, and insulin if needed, regularly and your pharmacist can help you with these. The poster attached shows all the main tests that you need in diabetes care. The good news is that if you have good overall control of your diabetes, and get regular eye and feet checks, then the chances of having any complication is reduced by at least 50%.
What do you need to remember? Firstly diabetes can be prevented. If overweight- lose weight to normal weight for you. Make sure that you have enough physical activity- a gym can help but brisk walking is also of great benefit. Discuss your risk with your doctor.
