Diabetes Prevention

  • Diabetes
    Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level.  The burden of diabetes is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries. While the causes are complex, but the increase is in large part due to rapid increases in overweight, including obesity and physical inactivity. There is good evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and its complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 1 November 2015

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented but onset of Type 2 diabetes in most cases may be prevented by watching your diet, managing your weight and changing your lifestyle. At the very least the progression of Type 2 diabetes can be managed.

Simple steps to prevent Type 2 Diabetes

  • Shed the pounds! Lose weight and maintain a healthy BMI to prevent risk of Type 2 Diabetes 
  • Get moving! A daily cardiovascular exercise regime of minimum 30-40 minutes is most beneficial.
  • Watch what you eat! A diet low in carbohydrates, sugar, fatty & processed foods is increasing becoming the choice for a healthy lifestyle.
  • Reduce alcohol intake! An occasional glass of wine is known to be helpful but nothing more.
  • Kick the butt! Quitting smoking is known to significantly reduce risk of diabetes and heart conditions. 
  • Unwind! Keep stress at bay by using relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation etc.

See this in an infographic: 6 Easy Ways to Prevent Diabetes

​Read our Diabetes Management section

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Stories

  • A person in a white t-shirt holding his shoulder and signalling pain
    Why are My Shoulders Frozen and Painful
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  • A young woman Ankita Bardhan standing in a purple and white printed dress in an open setting. The bottom of trees can be seen behind her
    "I Hate Diabetes From The Bottom Of My Heart!"
    Ankita Bardhan,29 from Kolkata has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since she was 13. Even though she would give anything for a non-diabetic life, that is not to be, and she has learnt to fight it every single day to respect the sacrifices her family has made for her and to acknowledge life as beautiful. Please tell us a bit about your condition, as in what you are suffering from : The condition is Type 1 diabetes. Essentially, in this condition, the insulin production from the pancreas of one’…
  • Can I Drink Wine If I Have Diabetes?
    This is a common question for people with diabetes. Dietitian Gerard Wong shares his inputs on whether persons with diabetes should have wine or alcohol and what to watch out for if they are on metformin or insulin.  Can red wine have adverse effects on persons with type 2 diabetes on metformin medication? Metformin is an oral anti-diabetic drug used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. Let’s see how metformin works. It enhances the available insulin in your body and…
  • Living Better With Diabetes - A Webinar/ Live Q&A Series
    Diabetes Management can be challenging and distressing for a lot of families. In our Live Discussion sessions we talk to eminent doctors and patients for tips, vital information and motivation. In continuation of our series on Living Better With Diabetes we have with us Dr. Usha Sriram, Diabetes Specialist, Founder, Diwaaas.   Jayesh Shah, Type 2 Diabetes, Mumbai  Marianne de Nazareth, Type 2 Diabetes, Bengaluru Dr. Usha is passionate about the role of families in diabetes…
  • Image of some medicines and a book with the text Prediabetes
    Why You Should Take Prediabetes Seriously
    Prediabetes is the stage before Diabetes. Its your best chance of preventing the progression to diabetes if you make the necessary lifestyle changes. Read on to find out more about about Prediabetes. What is Prediabetes Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. Simply put, prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of developing diabetes unless you change your lifestyle. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 15 to 30 per…
  • Whole Wheat Chicken Momos
    Healthy Momos Recipe
    A healthy snack recipe good for everyone - especially people with diabetes contributed by Diabetes Awareness and You Chicken Momos Number of Momos: 20 Ingredients for Momos: Whole Wheat Flour: 75 gms Chicken: 250 gms Onion: 2 tbsp Oat flour: 75 gms Ginger: 1 tsp Garlic: 1 tsp Maida: 100 gms Oil: 200 ml Preparation of Momos:  Mix the flour together. Add some salt and 1 tsp oil. Mix it and make a dough out of it. Take some chicken portion. Steam it. Add some onion, ginger, garlic, soya…
  • A pair of hands, one holding a glucometer and the other a pill showing support of a caregiver to a diabetic patient
    Why Family Support Matters in Diabetes Management
    The theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 and 2019 is The Family and Diabetes. Lets look at how families supported our diabetes patients and the role of the family in the management, care and prevention of diabetes. Marianne de Nazareth, Bangalore My son, Andrew, who was studying at St. John’s Medical College, began to badger me to get my sugar checked. With his growing medical knowledge, he was becoming increasingly concerned about my sugar readings. He knew I had a huge craving for all things…
  • A dark haired woman with spectacles in a yellow and red sari and blouse sitting on a white sofa
    I Am Fighting Diabetes With A Smile
    Nandita Banerjee, 60 a certified Diabetes educator with DAY (Diabetes Awareness and You) in Kolkata, talks about how she has been battling this silent killer herself for the last 18 years with a  lot of success. Please tell us a bit about your condition. I have been suffering from Type 2 Diabetes for last 18 years, but have managed to keep myself disciplined and in control When were you diagnosed? In 2001 What were the early symptoms? It started with rashes in my whole body which I…
  • A pathologist with a mask covering his face holding a urine sample bottle
    What Does The Colour Of Your Urine Mean?
    Urinalyis or Urine Tests are often prescribed by doctors to detect certain conditions. Dr. Shital Raval explains what the results of a urine test mean, and the right way to collect a urine sample.   #KnowYourTest Series What is urinalysis? Urinalysis or Urine tests are a group of tests conducted on your urine that a doctor may prescribe. These tests are indicators of acute or chronic conditions or illnesses. It can also help detect insidious infections like urinary tract infections or…
  • Image Description: A head shot of Mr. Akhileshwar Sahay with spectacles as he shares his experience of living with Bipolar, Depression and COPD
    Bipolar or COPD - Never Lose Hope
    And QUIT SMOKING. Akhileshwar Sahay, a seasoned industry veteran, has been living with bipolar disorder for the last 2 decades. In this interview, he talks about his troubled journey with multiple chronic illnesses including COPD, Depression, Diabetes and his commitment to removing stigma related to mental illness.  How did your bipolar disorder start? What were the early symptoms? Bipolar disorder is not like influenza that it is diagnosed at once. Its roots are biological and I was…