Exercise

TEST2PREVENT DIABETES

Partner Content: WOW

World Diabetes Day on 14 November aims to raise global awareness on diabetes prevention and management. According to the International Diabetes Federation, by 2035, almost 600 million of us may be living with diabetes. This will rise to 642 million by 2040.

Diabetes is a major and increasing public health threat in South Africa. It is estimated that currently 1 in 4 adults over the age of 45 years have diabetes. Health complications of diabetes; such as amputations, blindness, stroke, heart attacks and kidney failure; can prevent people from working, resulting in poverty. People with diabetes are also at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, needing hospital treatment.

Diabetes occurs when there is a problem in the body with insulin and glucose (sugar) cannot get into the cells. This causes sugar levels in the blood to rise. Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues. There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age but occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases. The main risk factor for type 2 diabetes is an unhealthy lifestyle, including a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating and an unhealthy weight. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a type of diabetes that consists of high blood glucose during pregnancy and is associated with complications to both mother and child.

There is a tendency for diabetes to run in families because they usually eat the same food and live a similar lifestyle. Your lifestyle choices in uence your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can prevent or lower your risk by living a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes being active, eating healthy food, having a healthy weight and taking your medication correctly as prescribed by your health worker. If there is diabetes in your family, you should be careful not to put on weight over the years. Growth of the waist size increases the risk of diabetes, whereas regular physical activity will lower the risk. You should also take care of your eating and drinking habits; making sure each day to eat healthy foods, make water your drink of choice, and avoid or limit food and drinks containing added sugar. Preventing and managing diabetes means keeping your blood sugar as normal as possible (<5/5mmol) by following a healthy lifestyle.

During the month of November, WoW! will be hosting the #BeSugarSmart Challenge to create awareness on how to reduce our added sugar intake. Join the challenge on Facebook (WoW! WesternCape on Wellness) and WhatsApp (send #BeSugarSmart to 0663906646) to receive more information on healthy eating, physical activity and motivation for a healthier lifestyle.

Diabetes is a chronic and slowly progressive condition, we often do not act until it is too late. In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, it is important to know your risk of type 2 diabetes. Completion of the Test2Prevent tool below will help you to nd out your risk and if you should have your blood sugar tested. Thank you for helping us by sharing this information with others to prevent and manage diabetes together!