Why Is Diabetes Considered A Lifestyle Disease?

Posted on: Sep 17, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Why Is Diabetes Considered A Lifestyle Disease?

When we think about diabetes, the first thing that comes to our mind is that it is majorly a sugar-related illness. This is true, but what most of us fail to realise is the fact that diabetes is a problem that arises out of poor lifestyle choices, where our habits and routines mostly set the ground for it. So, understand why diabetes is considered a lifestyle disease and the ways of handling it in a better manner.

Why is Diabetes a Lifestyle Disease?

In simple terms, Diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. There are several types of diabetes, though Type 2 is the one most associated with lifestyle factors. Some of us have called it a "lifestyle disease," meaning diseases associated with the kind of life one leads, from diet and physical activity to even stress and sleep.

In a population like India's, whose traditional diets are dense in carbohydrates, the transition towards a more inactive lifestyle has made us much more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes doesn't just arrive out of the blue; it's years of choices and habits that slowly lead to insulin resistance, where your body can't effectively use the insulin that it produces.

The Role of Diet and Exercise

The traditional Indian diet is rich in carbohydrates-bread, rice, and sweets. While our ancestors balanced this with physical labour, today's urban lifestyle doesn't demand the same expenditure of energy. This imbalance leads to weight gain and gradually to the development of Type 2 diabetes. You are asking for trouble if you indulge regularly in fast foods and sugary drinks and lack fibre in your diet.

On the other hand, lack of exercise exacerbates this. Most of us sit for hours in front of a screen at work or even at home. Unless you get about engaging yourself, your body won't get enough activity to burn that excess sugar in the blood. It keeps accumulating and building up, which is a hallmark of diabetes. That is why the management of diabetes through lifestyle is critical: it's all those little, significant changes in your daily routine that will keep blood sugar at bay.

Stress and Sleep

The two overlooked factors contributing to diabetes being a lifestyle disease are stress and poor sleep. When you are under stress, your body releases hormones like cortisol that raise blood sugar levels, and if it goes on for a longer period, then chronic stress leads to insulin resistance, yet another push down the path to diabetes.

Similarly, lack of sleep or disturbed sleep affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. Sleep deprivation, mostly from work pressures and long working hours, becomes an added reason for increased risk factors for developing diabetes. Making sure you get enough rest and finding ways to manage stress are important aspects of lifestyle diabetes management.

The Importance of Early Detection and Management

One of the biggest problems with diabetes is that it often goes undetected until it's too late. Lots of people do not even know they have it until they begin to develop serious complications, such as problems with their vision, kidneys, or heart. This is where health insurance or senior citizen health insurance that provides regular health checkups comes into play. Keeping an eye on their blood sugar levels allows them to pick up any problems early enough and do something to manage them.

Having health insurance becomes very critical in managing diabetes, especially with increasing age. In a country like India, health insurance can act as a saviour from the huge expenses related to healthcare. If you’re approaching your golden years or if you have elderly parents, senior citizen health insurance becomes even more important. It ensures that you have access to the necessary medical care without the added stress of financial strain.

Tips for Lifestyle diabetes management

Here’s how you can make smarter choices for lifestyle diabetes management:

1. Choose brown rice and oats over whole grains, they are a much better choice along with pulses that are rich in fibre like chickpeas and beans. These will help to level your blood sugar and are advised when managing a diabetes lifestyle disease.

2. Try swapping red and processed meats for fish or lentils. These are kinder on your heart and better for lifestyle diabetes management.

3. Too much salt increases blood pressure and may lead to heart disease. Use herbs and spices instead of salt. This is vital for keeping you healthy, especially with coverage for senior citizen health insurance.

4. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide you with very high levels of nutrients and fibre and they are your best friends when you are managing diabetes.

5. Use oils like olive or sunflower instead and cut down on saturated fats. This helps guard your heart, a crucial and common consideration in most policies like senior citizen health insurance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Diabetes is a lifestyle disease as every single choice one makes daily, from what to eat and how much to move, is what decides whether or not one gets afflicted with diabetes or deals with it in an optimum way. Build a healthier lifestyle and make sure you have health insurance to take control of your health. Remember that insurance for senior citizens is important, especially in old age, ensuring you or your loved one need not suffer a financial burden for the required care.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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