'Sedentary lifestyle cause of increase in number of diabetic patients'

CHITWAN: The number of diabetes patients has increased with increasing urbanisation, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet. The doctors have said that lack of precautions has posed the risk of diabetes in the country.

Senior physician Dr Bhojraj Adhikari at Pushpanjali Hospital, which has been providing treatment for diabetes for a long time, cited consumption of unhealthy diet as the reason behind the increasing number of diabetes patients.

Data shows that there are 450 million diabetic patients in the world, according to Dr Adhikari. He said seven per cent of the world's population was suffering from diabetes and added that an additional 10 per cent were at high risk of the disease.

World Diabetes Day, a primary global awareness campaign is held on November 14 every year since it was launched in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the rapid rise of diabetes around the world.

This year World Diabetes Day is being marked with the theme 'Diabetes: the concern of every family'.

Dr Adhikari said there were more diabetic patients in India and China than in any other country comprising 20 per cent of the diabetic population of the world, adding that monotonous diet and unhealthy lifestyle have increased the risk of the disease in Nepal.

Adhikari claimed that 10.5 per cent of the male population and 7.9 per cent of the female population were diabetic patients. According to a survey conducted by Lions International in Sauraha of Chitwan district, diabetes was found in 50 out of 244 families.

Diabetes may cause sudden heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and may prevent the wound healing capacity of the patient. Likewise, the risk of heart attack is higher in patients with high blood pressure, bigger belly and high cholesterol level.

The doctor further advised one and all to carry out physical training regularly, take sugar-free diet, have light meals at least six times a day, and have dinner by 7:00 pm. It is better not to take food more than 1,600 to 1,800-kilocalories. Maintaining weight with respect to the height, consuming plenty of vegetables, fruits and fibrous food are steps to prevent the disease, said the doctor.

Likewise, Secretary at Diabetes Society Chitwan, Keshav Devkota suggested avoiding processed food with excessive sugar and fats, tobacco and alcohol products as the preventive measure against the disease.