Today is celebrated on World Diabetes Day, an event instituted at the initiative of the International Diabetes Federation and WHO. We believe it is a very significant date to remember that in the world there are almost 380 million people who suffer from it.
A high figure that should not hide the fact that if decisive and effective interventions are not carried out, by 2030 the number of people affected will likely have doubled. It is a disease that it also affects children, with the number of minors suffering from it increasingly high. Type 1 diabetes is considered to be one of the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood, although the diagnosis of type 2 is increasingly common in children and adolescents, especially those who are overweight or obese. In fact, the number of affected children with type 2 diabetes in some countries It is becoming half of the cases diagnosed.
Dr. Juan Pedro López Siguero is coordinator of the pediatric endocrinology section of the Maternal and Child Hospital of Malaga, this specialist states that In the last 25 years the number of children under five affected by diabetes has doubled. Aiming as cause (among others) to weight gain in newborns.
How General causes of diabetes indicate poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, although more recently there is talk of avoiding contamination as much as possible and trying to prolong breastfeeding.
Diabetes is among the top ten causes of disability and has complications such as heart attack, stroke, lower limb amputations and blindness. It is also the cause of kidney failure or lung problems, among others.
Among the known forms of diabetes we will exclude the gestational, and we can tell you that in type 1 diabetes the organism does not produce insulin (so that the cells do not obtain sugar), and in type 2, this hormone is not used effectively , causing excessive work of the pancreas that should increase production to compensate for poor utilization.
Although the diagnosis of diabetes must be made by a doctor after analyzing the appropriate analyzes, some of the most obvious symptoms are fatigue, an excess of urinary secretions, and an increase in fluid intake. In addition, those affected usually lose weight (because fats are used as a source of fuel) and eat a lot (as a result of not being able to obtain energy through sugar)
Is prevention possible?
You are right, except that there are genetic causes, and even in these cases, the application of preventive measures will improve the health status of the sick.
If breastfeeding is chosen, we avoid adding unnecessary sugars to the diet of infants.
Necessary bet on healthy eating that prioritizes the natural sugars that fruits contain, dairy and carbohydrates, before refined sugar. And much better than the latter is to use honey or whole sugar.
Avoid a sedentary lifestyle by encouraging physical activity of any kind, and controlling the time that children remain inactive.
World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, had a decisive role in the discovery in 1922 of insulin, a hormone that allows diabetics to be treated and saved their lives. However, with our thanks to Banting and Best, there must be a social and health commitment to execute all the measures that are in our hands to stop the increase in incidence rates.
