China Faces Diabetes Epidemic
www.chc-ut.org
A new report shows that China now has more people with diabetes than any other country. We sought out Dr. Limei Xu of Hong Kong International Medical Clinic (HKIMC) for advice on how to protect ourselves from the disease.
What is diabetes, and why is it so dangerous?
Diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects the entire body. It occurs when your body develops a resistance to insulin, thereby resulting in high blood glucose. Without proper treatment, it can lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, kidney and erectile dysfunction, retinal bleeding, etc. Really severe cases have even caused blindness, heart attack, dialysis and amputations.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Feeling excessively thirsty, with the need to drink a lot of water
• Frequently passing urine
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss
• Feeling tired
• Sores or cuts slow to heal
• Infections, e.g. repetitive urinary tract infections and vaginal thrush
• Blurred vision
• No symptoms at all, which results in a delay in diagnosis
What causes diabetes and what types of people are most susceptible?
• Hereditary – People with diabetes in their genes are 25% more likely to develop DM as well
• Lifestyle – Eating high calorie food and not getting enough exercise
• Obesity
• Age, especially for those over 45 years old
• People with metabolic syndrome (e.g. hypertension and hypercholesterolemia)
• Women who had diabetes during pregnancy
What accounts for the sudden surge in diabetes patients in China?
“Modernized” yet unhealthy lifestyles in combination with an aging population play major roles in this. Eating habits have changed, there’s less physical activity coupled with a rise in obesity.
What can we do to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes?
Do everything you’d normally do to be healthy and maintain a normal weight. Reduce your intake of high-calorie, high-fat and processed food, exercise 3-4 times a week and quit smoking.
Hong Kong International Medical Clinic. Daily 9am-9pm (after 9pm minimal staff on duty). 9/F, office tower of the Swissotel, 2 Chaoyangmen Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6501 4260, 6553 2288 ext 2345/6/7) 东城区朝阳门北大街2号港澳中心瑞士酒店办公楼9层
