Act on diabetes now!

BY Rosalee M. Brown

World Diabetes Day will be observed on November 14. The focus is 'Act on diabetes now'. Since 1991, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization have been celebrating World Diabetes Day on this date, the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922. The United Nations joined forces in 2006 and, since 2007, this date also became a United Nations World Health Day.

According to statistics from the IDF, as of 2011, more than 300 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to reach over 400 million by 2030, without intervention, according to the IDF. More than 70 per cent of people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.

Pre-diabetes

In developing countries, more than 50 per cent of persons living with diabetes are not aware of it. There are millions of people worldwide with a condition where their blood sugars are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis - this condition is called pre-diabetes and approximately 79 million people in the United States have this condition. There are no statistics in Jamaica for pre-diabetics. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared to people with normal blood glucose.

The risk factors for pre-diabetes are the same as for diabetes.

Overweight and obesity, especially abdominal obesity, that is, women with a waist measurement at or above 35 inches and men with a waist measurement at or above 40 inches.

A sedentary lifestyle

Ageing

Family history of diabetes

Clinical signs called acantosis negricans which is a darkening of the back of the neck, inside the elbows and other areas.

You do not have to have all the risk factors to get type 2 diabetes. Any one of the following tests done will guide you.

A1C: this gives a three-month history of your blood sugar level. An A1C result between 5.7 to less than 6.4 indicates pre-diabetes.

A fasting blood-glucose test is also used; results greater than or equal to 100mg/dl to less than 126mg/dl indicate pre-diabetes.

The oral glucose-tolerance test is another test used; a result of greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl to less than 200 mg/dl indicates pre-diabetes.

A ground-breaking study called the Diabetes Prevention Programme proves that pre-diabetes can be reversed with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services. Email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.