The change in lifestyle has hit women more compared to men and this explains the reason for higher incidence of diabetes among women, according to endocrinologist A. Mythili.
Delivering an awareness talk on: ‘Diabetes – Prevention and Care’, organised by The Hindu on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, on Tuesday, she said 56 % of the diabetics in State were women. The stressful modern lifestyles associated with balancing of the work at home and at the office, lack of physical activity due to availability of modern gadgets to do household chores and sitting for hours together in front of computers seem to be taking a heavy toll on their health. Dr. Mythili, who is a professor of Endicronology at the King George Hospital, said fertility issues, polycystic ovary syndrome and stress during pregnancy were also found to be the triggering factors for increased incidence of diabetes among women.
The other factors include: gender disparity, lower spends on women’s health and obesity. The outcomes of women with diabetes were all the more distressing. Attributing the growing incidence of diabetes in India to the changes in food habits, she said: “We used to come across diabetes only after people crossed 45 years of age in the past, but now even children are getting diabetes. Consuming junk foods, irregular eating habits, disruption of the biological clock, due to working in late night shifts were triggering diabetes”.Dr. Mythili said when a woman gets Type II diabetes during pregnancy, the chances of the offspring getting diabetes would be very high. The risk increases further, if it was a girl with overweight. She underlined the need for pregnant women to adopt a healthy diet to prevent the risk of developing from the foetus stage. They would have to gain at least 9 kg during pregnancy.
The other extreme was pampering of pregnant women by not allowing them to move from the bed. They should be allowed do light work or to walk to ease the pressure and stress
She said those diagnosed with diabetes and those, who run the risk due to genetic predisposition, should take greater care to minimise the consumption of sugar. The sugar would be absorbed very quickly and their blood sugar levels would go up rapidly. Diabetics should invariably get their blood sugar levels and blood pressure checked once in every three months. They should examine their feet regularly to ensure that they do not get dry and if they do, they should be washed and a cream should be applied to keep them moist. Those diagnosed with diabetes should give up alcohol and tobacco and follow a healthy lifestyle like eating the right diet and exercise regularly apart from taking the drugs as prescribed by the doctor.
Dr. G. Prabhakar, consultant physician of The Hindu, presided.
