Did you know that as per the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), almost 20 percent of the UAE population is diabetic and another 20 percent is pre-diabetic?
Today on the World Diabetes Day, Khaleej Times looks at different aspects of the condition.
The globally increasing pattern of unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle has led to the rise in obesity, further driving the prevalence of diabetes. “Diabetes is a silent killer and the condition will only worsen if it is not controlled, because diabetes rates are on the rise in this region now, given the lifestyle choices of people in the UAE, said Dr. Maneesha Pandey, specialist endocrinologist, Aster Jubilee Medical Centre, Dubai.
“Earlier, it was seen in people above the age of 50. These days there are innumerable cases of youngsters who have diabetes.”
Dr. Maneesha handled a case of a 13-year-old Asian boy with short stature. He had a history of type 1 diabetes since he was only 1.5 years old and his blood glucose was uncontrolled over last several years. As compared to his peers his height was very less. “On further checkup, I diagnosed that his short stature was entirely due to uncontrolled blood sugar. On improving his glycemic control, he started gaining height. The take home message from this case is that poor glycemic control in the growing age can adversely affect the overall growth including height.”
In another case, a 12-year-old was suffering from type 1 diabetes for last two years. Recently, his six-year-old sister was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and both are currently on insulin. However, there is no other family history of diabetes including the parents and other siblings. “This shows that first degree relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing the disease,” Dr Maneesha added.
“Our fast-paced lifestyle and eating out regularly combined with the lack of exercise increases rates of obesity and high blood cholesterol levels. These factors, in turn, increase the risk of developing diabetes, which over time, leads to serious damage in many organs of the body, especially the nerves and blood vessels,” said Mohamed Nabil Hassan Abdelrazik Mahna, a specialist endocrinologist at Medcare Hospital, Jumeirah.
Dr. Maneesha Pandey
Specialist Endocrinologist
Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (AJMC)
News Source – http://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/health-fitness/its-never-too-late-to-prevent-diabetes
