Watch out for the first signals: Diabetes can be prevented

Experts drew attention to the measures to be taken in the prediabetes stage on World Diabetes Day. Reminding that controls should not be neglected in the prediabetes stage, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Hakan Sarı emphasized that the development of diabetes can be delayed or completely prevented with changes in nutrition and lifestyle.

Turkey Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Hakan Sarı emphasized the importance of prediabetes and insulin resistance, known as the pre-diabetes stage. Prediabetes is seen in individuals whose blood glucose levels are above normal but not yet sufficient to diagnose diabetes and carries the risk of developing into type 2 diabetes if necessary precautions are not taken. Dr. Sarı pointed out that 42 percent of the adult population in our country is diabetic or prediabetic according to the Turkey Diabetes Study (TURDEP) data.

“The development of prediabetes can be prevented; however, diabetes rates continue to increase due to lack of awareness and lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Hakan Sarı, noting that individuals in the risk group should not neglect regular health checks. Early interventions in the prediabetes stage can delay the development of diabetes by 44 percent to 58 percent or prevent it altogether.

Women who give birth to large babies and have PCOS syndrome are also at risk

Dr. Sarı stated that especially those with a body mass index (BMI) over 25, those with a family history of diabetes, women who gave birth to large babies or who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy or who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and individuals with hypertension are in the high risk group. Sarı warned that these people can take important steps towards preventing diabetes by having regular health checks, monitoring their blood sugar levels and making lifestyle changes when necessary.

Lifestyle changes play a major role in the fight against prediabetes

Dr. Hakan Sarı stated that progression to type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented to a great extent by changing the lifestyle of individuals diagnosed with prediabetes. “Exercising at a moderate pace, such as walking for at least 150 minutes a week, and reducing body weight by 7 percent in the first six months can prevent prediabetes from progressing to diabetes,” Dr. Sarı said:

“It is possible to reduce diabetes risk factors with regular exercise and a healthy diet. There are studies showing that weight loss reduces the development of diabetes by 16 percent.”

Prediabetes brings many risks

Dr. Sarı said that prediabetes does not only increase the risk of diabetes; complications related to diabetes such as retinopathy, kidney failure, nerve damage, cardiovascular diseases can also be seen in prediabetic individuals. Stating that the risk of developing these complications increases when blood sugar exceeds 126 mg/dl during prediabetes, Dr. Sarı said, “Prediabetes is a condition that reduces the quality of life and causes the individual to face more serious health problems in the long term if not intervened in time.”

How should prediabetes treatment be?

Stating that pharmacological treatments also come into play in cases where the desired results cannot be achieved despite lifestyle changes, Dr. Sarı used the following statements:

“The first preferred treatment method is healthy living habits. However, relevant drugs can be used to break insulin resistance or control prediabetes. Especially in individuals in the high-risk group, with a body mass index above 35 and HbA1c levels exceeding 6 percent, drug treatment may be considered along with lifestyle changes.”

“Step into a healthy future with awareness and early intervention”

Turkey Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Hakan Sarı advised people with prediabetes to follow their health checks without interruption and to review their nutrition and living habits. Pointing out the importance of social awareness to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, Dr. Sarı concluded his words by saying, “Raising awareness about prediabetes and insulin resistance on World Diabetes Day is a big step towards controlling and preventing diabetes.”

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