SUGAR, STRESS, AND SEDENTARY LIVING: THE TRIO FUELING DIABETES EPIDEMIC
Diabetes, a persistent health issue, affects how the body processes food for energy and regulates blood sugar levels. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in India, approximately 77 million people above the age of 18 are suffering from Diabetes and nearly 25 million people are prediabetics. A major concern is the rise of diabetes, especially amongst young adults, which is becoming a significant contributor to the global epidemic due to the unique challenges and lifestyle factors it imposes on individuals.
India Today spoke with Dr Aparna Bhanushali, Head-Growth and Scientific Support at HaystackAnalytics to take more insights.
THE DISEASE CAN BE TRIGGERED BY SEVERAL EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS INCLUDING:
Sedentary Living: The sedentary lifestyle is one of the most significant contributing factors in the diabetes epidemic. Some of the factors including prolonged sitting and lack of physical activity not only encourage unhealthy lifestyles but also impact the overall well-being of the body.
These habits can affect an individual's metabolism and can lead to unhealthy weight gain, which can trigger type 2 diabetes. To manage this, individuals are recommended to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine like taking short breaks for a walk, and indulging in physical activities like walking or jogging before starting their daily routine.
Stress Levels: High levels of stress not only affect mental health but also play a role in the development of diabetes as it triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol. This can lead to impaired sugar metabolism and elevated risk of development of diabetes.
To combat this effectively, individuals can indulge themselves in some stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to mitigate the effects of stress.
High level of Sugar Consumption: In India, one of the common dietary choices includes traditional sweets, sugary beverages, and refined carbohydrates including white flour or white rice, which has been another major contributor to the diabetes epidemic. Additionally, individuals often rely on these foods for quick energy for sustaining throughout the day, leading to high sugar intake on a daily basis.
These habits often lead to weak metabolism, leading to excessive weight gain and impaired sugar metabolism. To manage their sugar consumption, individuals can replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread and oats to help stabilise blood sugar levels. Individuals can also replace high-sugar snacks, desserts or beverages with fruits, nuts or yogurt to limit their sugar intake.
In addition to this, it is important to note that high levels of sugar consumption, stress levels and sedentary lifestyle are not only isolated factors but are interconnected and often one of the major triggering factors of diabetes in an individual.
Furthermore, it is essential to understand that diabetes requires a holistic approach that addresses all three components of this trio as adopting precautionary measures individually may not yield the desired results unless there is a coordinated effort to address all the aspects of this problem.
By understanding the interconnected nature of these factors and implementing precautionary measures like healthy dietary choices and exercise in their daily routines, individuals can lead healthier lifestyles with high levels of productivity and efficiency.
2024-06-10T10:43:49Z dg43tfdfdgfd