“Women are normally protected from cardiovascular disease and get it later in life than men, but that benefit is eliminated if they have diabetes,” notes Prof. Lars Rydén, spokesperson for the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
What is more, cardiovascular disease is responsible for around 50-80% of deaths in people with diabetes.
Diabetes prevalence down to low physical activity, junk food
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with diabetes globally is expected to soar to 592 million by 2035 – an increase that experts attribute to a combination of low physical activity and increased intake of unhealthy foods.
“We have an increasing supply of food, including junk food, which is relatively cheap and heavily advertised – soft drinks with a lot of sugar, for example,” says Prof. Rydén. “The typical heart attack patient today is a sedentary, overweight person with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, while in the past the average patient was a lean, stressed chain smoker.”
The majority of people are well aware that physical activity benefits health, and most countries have guidelines recommending how much activity one should engage in.
In the US, for example, guidelines state adults should take part in 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claim that less than half of adults meet these guidelines.
As such, Prof. Rydén and other leading health experts across Europe are calling for increased focus on healthy eating and exercise to reduce the risk of this potentially life-threatening condition.
Simple steps to reduce diabetes risk
Numerous studies have suggested a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of diabetes, as well as improve the health of people who already have the condition.
Prof. Rydén recommends following four simple steps that he believes can lower the risk for diabetes and heart-related health problems:
- Move around more
- Engage in moderate to vigorous activity at least 3 hours a week
- Avoid eating junk foods, particularly those high in sugar
- Instead, eat leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, lean meats, unsweetened yogurt and nuts.
Prof. Rydén says that while these are simple steps, they do require a lot of self-discipline, but the effects are worth it.
“We now have rock solid scientific evidence that people who have impaired glucose tolerance, which is a pre-stage of diabetes, can reduce their chances of getting diabetes and of dying from heart disease or other causes if they move more and eat healthy food,” he adds.
MNT recently reported on a study that found increasing intake of homemade meals may lower a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes.
More article about managing Diabetes:
How to Manage Your Type 2 Diabetes with Diet
Update to the post
Diabetes is a silent disease and higher sugar level in the body damages the nerve system of the body. For people suffering from higher level of diabetes, there are increased risks of adverse effects in their eyes and feet. There are also higher risks of a heart attack or increased risks of failure of major organs like kidney and liver.
The diabetic patients need to be aware of these complications from higher level of diabetes and what steps to take to seek medical help in case of emergency. To learn more,
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