Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Health Sciences Faculty, Nutrition and Dietetics Department Chair Prof. Dr. Halit Tanju Besler made statements on 14th of November, World Diabetes Day. Prof. Dr. Besler mentioned the following:
What does World Diabetes Day Remind Us? Why are Changes in Life Styles Important? A Healthy Diet and Mobile Life Possess a Great Importance!
Every year, 14th of November is celebrated as the World Diabetes Day. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) annually celebrates World Diabetes Day to raise awareness on the increasing rates of diabetes and also health problems caused by it since 1991. World Diabetes Day is also recognized by the United Nations in 2006.
Type II diabetes is known to be the main cause of the increase in the rates of diabetes disease which is affecting around 422 million people. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has quadrupled since 1980. Being overweight and a life style without mobility are the leading factors of Type II diabetes. Therefore, life style is the key factor triggering the increase in diabetes. Nowadays Germany, Russia, Turkey, the United States, Arabic countries are the listed on the top of countries affected by the increase in diabetes. Prevalence of diabetes in both nation-wide and island-wide is significantly high. The prevalence rate of diabetes in European Union countries is approximately 7.3% whereas the rates in Turkey and Cyprus are %12.5 and %9.4, respectively. It has been reported in 2012 that the number of people dying from diabetes was 1.5 million throughout the world. But it should not be ignored that far more than this number of people die because of diabetes related health problems such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and especially foot/leg amputations. For this reason, WHO and Ministries of Health in countries have started taken precautions in order to prevent an epidemic of diabetes.
Unfortunately there is no known method of protection from Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually seen in children (between ages of 5 and 11) because of the absence of insulin. However the most common type of diabetes is Type II diabetes (insulin exists but it is not sufficient) around the world and it is possible to protect yourself from this type of the disease. It is vital to raise awareness in this respect.
Increased level of fat in the body is known as the key factor of Type II diabetes. Moreover, immobility observed with being overweight is another factor of increases in the rates of this disease. In order to prevent being overweight or obese, people should have a balanced diet in which the total sources of energy, fat and saturated fat amounts are decreased and consumption of vegetables/fruits with fibres are increased. It is important to use low processed extra-virgin olive oil in our diets.
Babies who are fed only with breast milk from birth to the 6th month of their life are less likely to develop diabetes in their future life. Parents should not give their offspring sugar-sweetened beverages and should make sure that, children rarely consume such products. It is known that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is directly related to Type II diabetes. In addition, tobacco use is another factor related to the increased rate of diabetes. Cooking habits should also be evaluated. Oven baking instead of frying or pan-broiling should be preferred. People should have mobility as well as a healthy eating habit. Adult individuals should include a minimum of 30 minute workout within their lives. Such workouts should be repeated five times a week. The workouts can be divided into shorter periods of minimum 10 minutes. People willing to do more intensive workouts should have a health check-up before they start doing exercising.
If you are looking for guidance on your diet and lifestyle, you can get services form Eastern Mediterranean University, Centre for Healthy Living (SAYMER - 0392 630 3909).
