Diabetes and Cardiovascular health disease are the most commonly seen disease in any developed country like Singapore. Pause and have a good look at this alarming statistics here.
Statistics in Singapore – 2015 |
|||
| Total adult population (1000s)
(20-79 years) |
4,242 | Number of deaths in adults due to diabetes | 3,815.3 |
| Prevalence of diabetes in adults
(20-79 years) (%) |
12.8 | Cost per person (USD) | 2,932.9 |
| Total cases of adults (20-79 years) with diabetes (1000s) | 541.6 | Number of cases in adults that are undiagnosed (1000s) | 253.8 |
Source: International Diabetes Federation (www.idf.org)
Type 2 Diabetes
Singapore has the second highest proportion of diabetics in the world. With the population of over 5 millions people, we ranked second in the world. Is this something to be proud of?
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form. Approximately about 90% of diabetes is Type 2. It is typically a progressive disease – it gradually gets worse. Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk.
It is classified as a metabolism disorder, which means is a condition affecting the way our bodies digest food for energy and growth. Food that we consumed are broken down into fat, glucose and protein. As a form of sugar in the blood, glucose provide us the source of fuel for our bodies. However, glucose cannot make its entry to our cells without insulin.
Insulin Resistance
A person with elevated blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) most likely caused by a condition called Insulin Resistance (IR). The cells simply are not responsive to the insulin secreted from the pancreas. As a result, the cells are not taking up the glucose from the bloodstream and ultimately lead to high blood sugar. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and growth requirements.
The resulting phenomenon of insulin resistance and Diabetes is often the long term consequence of unfit, sedentary lifestyles. Think what modifiable lifestyle choices can you take to prevent and appropriately manage this lifestyle disease.
Best of health,
Dr Chew Wei Lun
D.C., CFMP®, Certified CBP®
