Unhealthy way of life, stress fuelling diabetes surge

Sumon Kabir (pseudonym), an worker at a non-public agency within the capital, leads a life-style acquainted to many city professionals.

His workplace has a canteen, however he usually can not eat there as he often works exterior throughout lunch hours. Instead, he depends on quick meals.

Once again at work, Sumon spends most of his day in entrance of a pc, hardly ever taking breaks. His job additionally entails appreciable stress.

“One day, my office arranged a diabetes test, and I reluctantly took part,” he instructed The Daily Star not too long ago. “I was shocked when the results showed that my blood sugar level was very high. I had no idea I had diabetes. Now I have to manage it carefully.”

Health specialists say life like Sumon’s — marked by lengthy hours of sitting, stress and unhealthy consuming — are a direct path to diabetes.

Like him, 1000’s of persons are creating diabetes as a result of poor way of life selections, unhealthy diets, nerve-racking workplace environments and a ignorance, specialists stated.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), about 1.38 crore folks in Bangladesh have diabetes. However, well being specialists consider the precise quantity is larger, posing a severe burden on the healthcare system and financial system.

Amid the scenario, Bangladesh, together with the remainder of the world, is observing World Diabetes Day as we speak. This 12 months, the IDF has centered its marketing campaign on “Diabetes and the Workplace” to boost consciousness amongst working populations.

The IDF launched World Diabetes Day in 1991, and the United Nations recognised it formally in 2007.

RISE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

In an article revealed by the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Dr Faruque Pathan, director (academy) at Birdem General Hospital, wrote that one in 4 adults in Bangladesh could now be diabetic.

If this estimate is correct, the full variety of sufferers may exceed three crores, he famous, warning that the scenario will worsen if present tendencies proceed.

Although he didn’t specify the info supply, an affiliation official stated a 2018 nationwide survey of 1 lakh adults discovered that one in 4 was diabetic.

The rise can also be mirrored in hospital knowledge. According to the affiliation, the variety of registered diabetic sufferers elevated from 15.1 lakh in 2015–16 to 65 lakh in 2023–24.

National Professor AK Azad, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, stated though no latest nationwide knowledge can be found, the pattern clearly reveals a fast rise.

He stated round 50 % of sufferers with diabetes are unaware of their situation, which means the true quantity is probably going a lot larger.

LIFESTYLE, FOOD HABITS TO BE BLAMED

At a press convention held yesterday at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital to mark World Diabetes Day, specialists mentioned the explanations behind the rise and potential preventive measures.

Prof Azad stated workplace staff are notably weak as a result of they sit for lengthy hours and have restricted alternatives for bodily exercise. He additionally famous that city areas usually lack areas for strolling or different bodily actions.

“Busy parents often give their school-going children money instead of homemade food, which encourages them to eat fast food,” he added.

These components are among the many essential causes behind the rising variety of diabetic sufferers within the nation, he stated.

Prof Mirza Mahbubul Hasan, director basic of Birdem, stated extended sitting is “as bad as smoking”, and bodily exercise is crucial to stop diabetes. A change in way of life, he added, is crucial.

Prof Sahela Nasrin, chief govt officer of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and Research Institute, stated the behavior of strolling ought to start at an early age.

“At least 150 minutes of walking per week and simple exercises three times a week can help prevent diabetes,” she stated.

Prof Arup Ratan Choudhury, visiting professor at Birdem’s dental surgical procedure division, added that tobacco use is one other main threat issue.

Md Sayef Uddin, secretary basic of the affiliation, stated elevating consciousness is essential to prevention and that the organisation is working in numerous methods to advertise this message.