Perhaps, it’s time to bring Justice to Health Crimes. Unfortunately, there is neither law nor policies to prosecute criminals such as Diabetes – SINGAPORE – No.2 nation with most Diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus or simply Diabetes goes way back in C. 1500 BCE Egypt. Where the first cases were documented as “too great emptying of the urine” (which was believed to be of Type 1 syndrome) on a manuscript. However; there was no official name given. It was the Indians who interestingly at around the same time, identified and named it Madhumeha meaning Honey Urine noting that the urine would attract ants. Centuries forward, it was the Indians again who identified 2 types of Diabetic conditions – Type 1 associated with youth (genetic) and Type 2 with obesity.

Fast forward to today, it isn’t difficult to see how and why it went from a docile health issue into to the No. 2 Killer in Singapore (N0.5 Killer in the world). With Global prevalence surging to about 4 times, from 108 million to 422 million within the last 30 years; and diabetics among young adults over 18 years old doubling in a shocking percentage from 4.7% in 8.5% also in the last 30 years.

Humans are an oddball lot. Most often we would choose the sweeter deal regardless of choice, so you can imagine where constant undisciplined consumption can lead to. This is the cause of Type 2 condition, where it stems from the lifestyle. The other condition, Type 1 stems from genetic cases, which sadly does not have a cure. Yet regardless of whichever conditions there is a common factor, that it is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. In a nutshell, it simply means unnecessarily amounts of high-sugar levels in your body.

There are millions of excuses one can think of when they are diagnosed with Diabetes. Blame it on the friends, the chef, no time, his family lineage…etc. However, we have to accept the fact of acknowledging the sickness.The symptoms of most Type 2 Diabetes include:

  • Blurred Vision
  • Constant Hunger
  • Frequent Urination
  • Fungus Infection
  • Numbness of Limbs

    • And overtime either Type 1 or Type 2 conditions can cause impacts such as Blindness, Nerve Damage, Heart Disease and in severe cases, Limb Amputation. However all is not lost if one is determine to change their lifestyle. Diabetes CAN be prevented, though not necessarily cured.

Preventive measures can keep Diabetic syndromes at bay, actions such as Maintaining Healthy Body Weight and that means doing any or all of these:

Exercise Regularly

  • 5-17 years old – minimum 60 minutes of physical activity daily
  • 18-64 years old – about 150 mins of moderate/ aerobic (i.e: brisk walking, jogging, gardening) weekly

AVOID SMOKING

  • Reduced risk of Diabetes and Cardiovascular diseases

Change and Control Diet

  • Limiting saturated fatty acids food
  • Lessen or avoid artificial sweet foods and drinks
  • Achieve sufficient dietary fibre; cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables

People with high blood pressure, diabetes – those are conditions brought about by lifestyle. If you change the lifestyle, those conditions will leave.

DICK GREGORY

Take a chance, keep being healthy, regardless of whether you are or are not diagnosed. After all, you only have one life and one body. Take care of it so that you can live it to the max.