As the campaign of the World Diabetes Day 2014 marks the first of the three-year (2014-16) focus on healthy living and diabetes, Professor Jamal Ahmad, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, J N Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University warned that with 64 million people suffering from diabetes, nowhere the epidemic is more common than in India.
Warning about an alarming situation in India, Prof Jamal said that more than 77 million people are suffering from Prediabetes (abnormal sugar levels leading to risk of diabetes). He added: Prediabetes is associated with a modest increase apart from the risk of progressing to Frank Diabetes.
He added that although diabetes is a global phenomenon, recent researches have shown that it is more prevalent in countries with low and middle incomes. “Considering the strength of lower income and middle income groups, India remains on a higher risk of diabetes and it is time we do something about it,” said Prof Jamal.
However, he said that there is nothing to be scared of diabetes. “To fight diabetes, people need to control blood pressure and cholesterol; even the diabetic patients can live normal and healthy lives if they are doing the right things,” maintained Prof Jamal.
On the eve of the World Diabetes Day, Prof Jamal urged diabetic and healthy people to have balanced diet, exercise regularly, and quit smoking and control glucose levels in blood. “People who are prone to raise glucose levels in their blood are on a risk of diabetes.”
Prof Jamal also said that even healthy people should go through regular blood tests to keep an eye on the glucose levels. “A normal person will have 100 mg/dl of fasting plasma glucose level in his blood while a Prediabetes person will have 100-125mg/dl of fasting plasma glucose level and above 126mg/dl level will be in a diabetic person. These levels should be checked through blood tests regularly,” said Prof Jamal.
Prof Jamal also said, “It is necessary to go through an A1c test every three months and check blood sugar levels with a glucometer.” While talking about the precautions, he further added that blood pressure should be checked regularly. Prof Jamal also said that if someone has an abnormal swelling on feet, then there is a possibility of diabetes. Talking about preventing swelling on feet, Prof Jamal said it is important that we should keep washing our feet with lukewarm water and use a thin coat of lotion on the top and bottom of our feet. It is also necessary to pare toe nails to avoid risk of being diabetic.