Ticking Time Bomb of Scotland-diabetes

Modernization has begun to demand or rather extract its pound of flesh.

According to Scottish experts from Edinburgh University, diabetes is a time bomb waiting to explode in the country.

Diabetes Type 2, known as maturity onset diabetes, is been diagnosed in a younger population in its 20s, 30s,and even in teens, something that was never heard of before. And to blame is no one else than today’s modern lifestyle and oneself.

Fast food cheaper and more affordable than ever, youths spending too many hours in front of the TV or PC and even driving short distances in favor of walking,all these, have played their part in bringing diabetes to a status of being an epidemic.

According to Dr. Sarah Wild, a senior lecturer in epidemiology and public health, who carried out the study:"The bad news is that instances of diabetes are going to go up in the future. We expect that by 2018(in 15 years time), there will be about 60 per cent more people with diabetes, just over half as many again as there were in 2002.

"Being overweight is the biggest factor in the number of younger people being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes."

There are two types of diabetes. In the less common type 1, the pancreas makes no insulin and people usually develop the condition as children or young adults. They need insulin injections for the rest of their lives.

Most diabetics have type 2 where the insulin the body produces does not work properly or the pancreas produces less than required amount of insulin. It usually occurs in older people, hence the name maturity –onset diabetes, but because obesity is a major risk factor, more and more younger people are getting it.

If one parent is diagnosed, the risk for their children increases three-fold. If both parents are affected the risk increases seven-fold.

The statistics are clear with no compromise - the heavier you are, the more likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Wild says the cost to the health service is enormous: "Already, although people with diabetes only form about 3% of the population it's been estimated that the cost to the NHS takes up about 9% of the budget. "So, the increasing cost will be considerably greater than the increasing number of people with diabetes."

Left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications including heart disease, strokes, and the loss of sight and even lower limb amputation.

The writing on the wall is clear, for all to see and take heed. Unless you watch your weight and make healthy lifestyle choices, you cannot escape diabetes. This is the price you will have pay for those tempting burgers, fries, colas and those hours whiled away doing nothing except holding the remote in your hand.

Source-Medindia
ANN