Rise of diabetes in India
In recent years, India has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of individuals affected by diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in India, approximately 77 million people above the age of 18 are suffering from Diabetes and nearly 25 million people are prediabetics. A major concern is the rise of diabetes, especially amongst the young professionals, is becoming a significant contributor to global epidemic due to unique challenges and lifestyle factors it imposes on individuals.
Some of the major factors that contribute towards triggering the disease include:
Sedentary living
The sedentary lifestyle of the Indian population is one of the most significant contributing factors in the diabetes epidemic. The culture of prolonged sitting at desks, attending meetings, and working on screens for hours not only leads to ignoring physical activity but also encourages unhealthy lifestyle habits. These habits can affect an individual’s metabolism, and can lead to unhealthy weight gain, which can trigger type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Advait Sharma, Chief medical officer, Truworth Wellness says, “Individuals are recommended to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine like taking short breaks for a walk, using standing desks or indulging into physical activities like walking or jogging before starting your daily routine. Additionally, instead of munching processed foods while working, individuals can replace them with fresh fruits, nuts or salad to avoid high-cholesterol snacks.”
Stress levels
Indians are going through high-stress due to long working hours and tight deadlines which can sometimes lead to increased stress levels. High levels of stress not only affects mental health but also plays a role in the development of diabetes as it triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol. This can lead to impaired sugar metabolism and elevated risk of development of diabetes. To manage this, individuals can indulge themselves in some stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to mitigate the effects of stress.
High level of sugar consumption
In India, one of the common dietary choices include traditional sweets, sugary beverages, and refined carbohydrates including white floor or white rice, which has been another major contributor in the diabetes epidemic. Additionally, corporate professionals often rely on these foods for quick energy during long working hours and meetings, leading to high sugar intake on a daily basis. These habits often lead to weak metabolism, leading to excessive weight gain and impaired sugar metabolism.
To manage their sugar consumption, individuals can replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread and oats to help stabilize blood sugar levels. Individuals can also replace high sugary snacks, desserts or beverages with fruits, nuts or yogurt to limit their sugar intake.
In addition to this, it is important to note that high levels of sugar consumption, stress levels and sedentary lifestyle are not only isolated factors but are interconnected and often one of the major triggering factors of diabetes in an individual. For instance, high levels of stress at work can lead to hormonal changes leading to sugar cravings. Or, sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise can contribute towards unhealthy weight gain, further leading to increased levels of stress.
The takeaway
It is essential to understand that diabetes requires a holistic approach that addresses all three components of this trio as adopting precautionary measures individually may not yield the desired results unless there is a coordinated effort to address all the aspects of this problem. By understanding the interconnected nature of these factors and implementing precautionary measures like healthy dietary choices and exercise in their daily routines, corporate professionals in India can lead healthier lifestyles with high levels of productivity and efficiency.
.jpg?w=600)
