Diabetes Prevention

March 11 2018

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an acquired disease that affects a large number of Southeast Asian’s in Abbotsford. Although it is an acquired disease, there is a genetic component to the disease which contributes to the high percentage of prevalence seen in the Southeast Asian community.

The complications of the disease aren’t immediately seen, however the diabetes has devastating effects. It mainly targets the cardiovascular, eyes, kidneys, and nervous system. Majority of these complications occur late in the disease process so they can be avoided through preventative measures.

Preventative measures focus on lifestyle modification efforts. The goal is to target the following 4 domains: behavior modification, dietary therapy, physical activity, and smoking cessation.

When it comes to diets, instead of focusing on a specific nutrient like carbohydrates a change in dietary habits is recommended. Research has identified the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) or a Mediterranean-style diet as key diets for those at risk for T2DM. Guideline recommendations for those at high risk for diabetes state that it is essential that adults get 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week. Focusing on these two domains are great starting points for preventing and slowing down diabetes.