Is the diabetes population increasing every year? Doctors reveal 6 major risk factors: obesity and love of eating sugar are not the only reasons
Why is the diabetes population increasing? Is the extension of patient life also a potential main reason?
According to statistics, Taiwan currently has 2.1-2.4 million people with diabetes; in other words, 1 in 10 people may have diabetes. Dr. Ma Wenya, director of the Metabolic Endocrinology Department of Xindian Cardinal Tien Hospital, pointed out that there are currently about 150,000 to 160,000 new diabetic patients in Taiwan every year. The increase in the diabetes population is not only due to the disease itself, but also to the wrong lifestyle of Taiwanese people. Related to type.
“It is true that more people are suffering from diabetes; on the other hand, people with the disease are also living longer. Early onset or prolonged life after the disease will cause the prevalence of diabetes to increase!” Dr. Ma Wenya explained that Taiwan is currently The prevalence of diabetes in the United States is about 9-11%, and as age increases, the risk of the disease increases. Not only that, in recent years, it has also been noticed that the number of diabetes patients among young people is increasing, and some patients even develop the disease in their 20s and 30s. This phenomenon also worries the medical community.
What lifestyles are related to diabetes? Doctors reveal 6 major risk factors
Dr. Ma Wenya pointed out that although age is an important cause of diabetes, diabetes is not exclusive to the elderly. Diabetes is a “multifactorial” disease, partly caused by the body’s inability to metabolize sugar effectively. Eating too much, especially too much “refined sugar”, is like making the pancreas in the body “work overtime”, making it unable to metabolize sugar effectively.
Groups with inherited poor pancreatic function may also develop the disease earlier than the general population. Dr. Ma Wenya explained that if both parents suffer from type 2 diabetes, there is a 70% chance that their children will develop diabetes. In addition, life stress is also an important influencing factor: when an individual is under stress, the body will produce more glycogen. If one chooses to overeat to relieve stress at this time, it may further worsen the condition of diabetes. “Many people rely on ’eating’ to relieve stress and reward themselves with food during gatherings and celebrations. But it is rare to hear that people rely on ’exercise’ to relieve stress and celebrate!”
Dr. Ma Wenya said that less than 10% of Taiwanese people have exercise habits, which makes it more difficult to prevent and manage diabetes. People who are sedentary are indeed more likely to develop diabetes than those who are accustomed to physical activity. It is also more difficult to control themselves. weight. However, some studies have shown that gradually changing sedentary habits, such as getting up and walking every 40 minutes, can actually reduce the risk of diabetes to a certain extent.
Diabetes is not only related to the amount of activity, but also closely related to an individual’s daily routine, including sleep patterns. Studies have found that going to bed late or not getting enough sleep may increase your risk of gaining weight or developing chronic diseases.
Is a diabetes diagnosis not black and white? Isn’t the lower the blood sugar level, the better?
Dr. Ma Wenya pointed out that the diagnosis of diabetes is not black and white. “Blood sugar metabolism is a “continuous line.” It is necessary to find a standard to define what is normal and what is abnormal.” To this end, the medical community has developed a set of blood sugar measurements. Standard, if the fasting blood glucose exceeds 126 mg/dL in an asymptomatic person, the blood glucose exceeds 200mg/dL 2 hours after the sugar water test, the glycated hemoglobin exceeds 6.5%, or the blood glucose exceeds 200 mg/dL at any time, and there are typical symptoms of diabetes (for example, Thirst, polyuria, weight loss, etc.), then you may be diagnosed with diabetes.
However, there is more to treatment than just blood sugar numbers. Dr. Ma Wenya said that diabetes is a systemic disease that may affect various parts of the body. Diabetic patients are often accompanied by complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and kidney disease. Therefore, the management of diabetes is not just about controlling blood sugar, but needs to be “individualized” according to the patient’s age, disease severity, and complications. Develop a treatment plan based on factors such as symptoms and lifestyle habits, which may include diet control, exercise, oral medications, or insulin therapy.
“A common misunderstanding is that the lower the blood sugar value, the better. This is not the case!” Dr. Ma Wenya explained that the focus of diabetes management is not to pursue “numbers”, but to ensure that all parts of the body are functioning normally, and Can be maintained for a long time. Some patients may become too obsessed with numbers, leading to excessive stress and panic, which may have a negative impact on their health.
Can prediabetes be reversed? How long does it take for diabetes to develop if not controlled early?
Regarding the early prevention of diabetes, Dr. Ma Wenya pointed out that hyperglycemia is a continuous state and does not occur overnight. Therefore, if you notice that your blood sugar is slightly higher, you do not need to panic too much. You only need to be alert and respond promptly. Make lifestyle adjustments. However, if the glycated hemoglobin is between 5.7-6.4%, you should pay attention to the dangers of “pre-diabetes” and you should cooperate with a doctor for treatment.
Dr. Ma Wenya said that many patients are curious about how long it will take for them to become diabetic if they are prediabetic. Research shows that among pre-diabetic patients with glycated hemoglobin close to 6.4%, 6-22% will convert to diabetes every year. However, the progression of the disease increases with the accumulation of risk factors, and nearly half of people with prediabetes will develop diabetes within the next 5 to 10 years. However, the so-called prediabetes is not a “disease” and there is no need to panic. It can be regarded as the most suitable time to prevent the disease.
Dr. Ma Wenya explained that people often have excessive fear of being diagnosed with diabetes, or even just being included in the category of pre-disease, and are also worried about being “labeled.” In fact, people who engage in health management and prevention from the beginning of prediabetes have a much lower chance of developing complications even if they eventually develop diabetes than those who do not prevent it at all. “Even if you have pre-diabetes or even suffer from diabetes, as long as you follow your doctor’s advice and actively change your lifestyle habits, you still have a chance to live healthily to 100 years old!”
Is it a myth that people with diabetes cannot eat sweets? Can thin people also be potential diabetics?
In addition, there are many myths about diabetes, such as that only obese people will develop diabetes, or that diabetics cannot eat sweets. Dr. Ma Wenya explained that being overweight does increase the risk of diabetes, but it does not mean that all obese people will definitely develop diabetes, or that normal-weight people are safe. Likewise, diabetics do need to watch their sugar intake, but rather than avoid it altogether, they need to control portion sizes and choose a low-sugar diet.
Dr. Ma Wenya emphasized that diabetes is not a terrible disease. Regardless of whether people have been diagnosed with diabetes or have risk factors, they should maintain healthy living habits as much as possible, including a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A positive attitude towards the disease can not only help control diabetes, but also prevent the decline of body organs and lead a healthier life.
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