'Prediabetes' – A Ticking Time Bomb
What do Winston Churchill, Isaac Newton and Vincent Van Gogh have in common besides their fame and genius? They were mental illness sufferers - today the sixth leading cause of disability in the world is bipolar disorder, which also affects 1% of South Africans.
By Hamish van Wyk MSc Diabetes, Post Grad Dip Diabetes, BSc Dietetics (Product Manager, Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology)
“Diabetes is an all-too-personal time bomb which can go off today, tomorrow, next year, or 10 years from now…” – Mary Tyler Moore
Introduction
If we listen we can ‘hear’ the countdown to a diagnosis of diabetes, as definite signs point to a risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Some of these include:
- Being overweight (especially with a ‘spare tyre’ around your middle)
- Being physically inactive
- Making unhealthy food choices
- The presence of high blood pressure or cholesterol problems
- Increasing age
- A family history of diabetes (genetics)
If you look at the first three risk factors for type 2 diabetes, you realise that you can do much to lessen your risk for developing the condition. Although you cannot change your age or genes, you can still reduce this risk (and better manage any blood pressure or cholesterol) by addressing the first three points.
“Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.” – (author unknown)
However, I am sure you know of many people who have all six of these risk factors without having diabetes. This leaves us with the following question – is there not a better predictor for developing type 2 diabetes? Yes – it’s called ‘Prediabetes’ or Intermediate Hyperglycaemia. What this means is that your blood glucose levels are high, but not high enough to develop diabetes… yet. One could say that this is when the timer on the bomb starts its countdown. Although not everyone with prediabetes will develop diabetes, studies have shown that as many as 93% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes.
Blue or Red?
We know which wire to cut – the unhealthy lifestyle wire. In other words, to reduce our risk of developing diabetes, we need to lose weight, make healthier and informed food choices and become physically active. You might be pleased to know that even if you maintain your current weight, you would have a lower risk of developing diabetes than if you were to gain weight. In essence, even a small change in your lifestyle can substantially lower your risk for developing diabetes. In fact, if we are able to change our unhealthy lifestyles by making healthier choices, we can reduce our risk of developing diabetes by as much as 80 % over 13 years.
Type 2 diabetes is a largely preventable condition, a time bomb that can be deactivated. However, to deactivate this bomb you need to look for it! Importantly, even if the time bomb of prediabetes explodes and if you have or if you develop type 2 diabetes, all is not lost. Good and early treatment of type 2 diabetes acts like a ‘bomb blanket’ to prevent or greatly reduce any damage caused.
Find out if you are at risk
The Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) has, together with Anglo Medical Scheme, developed a web based questionnaire for you to identify if you are at risk. Complete the questionnaire by following this link.
We urge you to participate and to join us as we seek to stop the time bombs of diabetes and prevent the damage they can cause.
* MediBrief articles are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your medical concerns.