“The recurrent waves of the pandemic have diverted important health resources to tackle one looming challenge. As a result, other prominent diseases like diabetes, which as per the International Diabetes Federation report, affect over 537 million adults globally, are being neglected. So much so, to a greater extent, our attention towards diabetes management has also weakened, and many patients are compensating Covid fatigue with unhealthy lifestyle practices,” say Dr Banshi Saboo, Chairman Diacare Diabetes Hormone Clinic Ahmedabad, Secretary Diabetes India and Dr Amit Gupta, Director Centre for Diabetes Care, Greater Noida & Joint secretary Diabetes India.
The expert add that India is about to become the diabetes capital of the world, being home to a whopping 74 million-plus diabetes patients. “The National Family Health Survey-5 indicates that 17.1 per cent of the adult Indian population suffers from high blood sugar levels and requires medicines to control them. The rampant non-communicable disease is a lifestyle ailment, in which the blood glucose of the human body rises due to its inability to produce or utilise insulin properly,” they say.
With a drop in temperature, blood glucose levels (HbA1C i.e. three-month average blood sugar levels and random blood sugar levels) tend to rise in the winter months. The intake of comfort foods (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) increases during winters and leads to sugar levels shooting up.
“Exercising in the cold winter mornings is difficult. Leading a sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity can increase blood sugar levels as the body is unable to process glucose. Moreover, during winter, people do not feel thirst, and hence, the fluid intake decreases rapidly. As a result, the blood sugar levels rise in the body and increase the urination frequency leading to further dehydration,” they explain.
“The recurrent waves of the pandemic have diverted important health resources to tackle one looming challenge. As a result, other prominent diseases like diabetes, which as per the International Diabetes Federation report, affect over 537 million adults globally, are being neglected. So much so, to a greater extent, our attention towards diabetes management has also weakened, and many patients are compensating Covid fatigue with unhealthy lifestyle practices,” say Dr Banshi Saboo, Chairman Diacare Diabetes Hormone Clinic Ahmedabad, Secretary Diabetes India and Dr Amit Gupta, Director Centre for Diabetes Care, Greater Noida & Joint secretary Diabetes India.
The expert add that India is about to become the diabetes capital of the world, being home to a whopping 74 million-plus diabetes patients. “The National Family Health Survey-5 indicates that 17.1 per cent of the adult Indian population suffers from high blood sugar levels and requires medicines to control them. The rampant non-communicable disease is a lifestyle ailment, in which the blood glucose of the human body rises due to its inability to produce or utilise insulin properly,” they say.
With a drop in temperature, blood glucose levels (HbA1C i.e. three-month average blood sugar levels and random blood sugar levels) tend to rise in the winter months. The intake of comfort foods (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) increases during winters and leads to sugar levels shooting up.
“Exercising in the cold winter mornings is difficult. Leading a sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity can increase blood sugar levels as the body is unable to process glucose. Moreover, during winter, people do not feel thirst, and hence, the fluid intake decreases rapidly. As a result, the blood sugar levels rise in the body and increase the urination frequency leading to further dehydration,” they explain.
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