A new perspective on diabetes prevention: joint defense of family, environment and genetics

November 14th is the United Nations Diabetes Day. This year's theme is "Diabetes and Well-being", which aims to emphasize that improving the overall well-being of diabetic patients is the core of nursing work. Against this background, Merck, a leading global technology company, launched a global survey and public welfare campaign called "Show the Red Card to Diabetes Together" to call for joint prevention of type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Red Card Survey 2024 covers eight countries including China, and explores the impact of contemporary lifestyle habits and attitudes on diabetes management from a new perspective.

Be alert to high risks and apply the brakes in time to prevent diabetes

With the arrival of autumn and winter, some people start to eat a high-oil, high-fat, high-sugar diet in order to increase body heat, and their weight increases accordingly. For people at high risk of diabetes, this may be an important factor in blood sugar fluctuations. For this group of people, if the blood sugar level rises slightly, they should be vigilant. If they do not regulate it in time, it may further develop into diabetes.

Data from 2021 shows that 537 million adults worldwide have diabetes[], which can cause a range of health problems including heart and blood vessel disease, vision problems, kidney damage, neuropathy, and impacts on foot and dental health, while also increasing the risk of infection.

Many people do not know their risk of developing diabetes, so it is important to understand and assess your risk level. Risk factors include but are not limited to age, family history, ethnic background, unhealthy lifestyle, etc. For example, excessive intake of red meat, irregular eating habits, frequent intake of ultra-processed foods, and changes in life, such as working from home, may increase the risk of diabetes.

Family, environment and genetics: the unconventional "mystery" hidden in the old sayings

It is worth mentioning that when we talk about a healthy lifestyle to prevent diabetes, the concept of "control your mouth and move your legs" is deeply rooted in people's minds, and the results of the "Diabetes Red Card Survey 2024" also show that the public's awareness of this has indeed improved. However, it is puzzling that the number of new patients diagnosed continues to rise. This makes us wonder if we are still missing or not paying enough attention to some key links in preventing diabetes?

This year's World Diabetes Day theme is "Diabetes and Well-being", which reminds us that in the process of managing diabetes, we should not only pay attention to physical health, but also to mental health and overall well-being, and look for key factors in preventing diabetes that may have been overlooked.

Rapid changes in modern lifestyles, such as sedentary work patterns, online shopping, the convenience of ordering takeaway meals, as well as irregular eating times and high intake of red meat and processed foods, may increase the risk of diabetes.

In addition, the Diabetes Red Card Survey 2024 found that compared with other participating countries, Chinese respondents had a lower proportion of eating at home, which may affect the formation of healthy eating habits. At the same time, commonplace risks such as high-sugar diets and lack of exercise may cause us to ignore other risk factors such as family, environment, interpersonal relationships and genetics. For example, people still lack awareness that family history is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. For people with a family history of type 2 diabetes, they should pay more attention to their diabetes risk level.

The survey found that mutual support within the family, the popularization of health knowledge and a positive attitude towards life play an important role in diabetes prevention. On the road to controlling blood sugar, the participation and support of family members can make us more determined to walk on the road of healthy life. Working together to make a diet plan and participating in sports together, this companionship and encouragement cannot be replaced by any medicine.

The "500111" diabetes prevention and treatment rules summarized by Professor Li Guangwei, the leader of the Endocrinology Department of the Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, are also worth our action:

“5”: Exercise for half an hour every day and 5 days a week

“0”: No sweet drinks

"0": No more eating after dinner

“1”: Eat 1 liang less staple food per meal

“1”: Eat at least 1 catties of vegetables every day

“1”: Dining out at most once a week

Through these comprehensive measures, we can more comprehensively address the challenges of diabetes. Family support, healthy living habits, a reasonable diet, and knowledge of family medical history are all important weapons in our efforts to prevent diabetes. Let us work together to lay a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle through these specific and effective actions, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes and enjoying a healthier and happier life.