The UAE has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world. And according to the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, current data suggests up to 20 per cent of the Abu Dhabi population has the disease. In the case of type 2 diabetes, it is largely preventable through a balanced diet and active lifestyle, which help to maintain a healthy weight.
Dr Saf Naqvi answers our questions about diabetes and its link to food and everyday habits.
How are diet and diabetes related?
Diet and type 2 diabetes are related, although it is important to note that there are a number of factors that bring on diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by an unhealthy, inactive lifestyle, weight gain and genetics. Obesity is known to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Diabetes is a condition that is characterised by an above-normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, and by either a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin. This is because the pancreas does not make enough insulin or insulin becomes ineffective. Insulin, a hormone generated in the pancreas, normally controls blood-sugar levels and allows the glucose to enter the cells in the body to provide energy. In people living with diabetes, high levels of glucose remain in the bloodstream, causing hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar).
In type 2 diabetes, resistance to insulin is known to be aggravated by obesity, and many people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and/or obese.
Can diet be used to manage type 2 diabetes?
Yes. Research has proven that there is a strong link between diet and type 2 diabetes, especially in combination with body weight. This is because those carrying excess weight are at an increased risk of type 2, especially if the body mass index indicates that obesity is present.
A person of normal body weight could also be susceptible, however, especially if they are carrying excess weight around the tummy area. This can often be attributed to “visceral fat”, a troublesome fat that generally resides on the inside of the stomach, and therefore is not so apparent to the eye.
The smart, simple steps to a healthy lifestyle include embracing a balanced diet, maintaining a normal body weight and ensuring regular exercise, such as a brisk, 30-minute walk, every day. A healthy lifestyle is essential in the successful treatment of type 2 diabetes, regardless of whether or not my patient is on prescribed medication.
It is very possible to reduce the blood-glucose level by eating a balanced diet. This is all the more effective if any excess weight is shed and exercise becomes part of daily practice. Healthy eating is a must for those living with diabetes, but it is better to prevent diabetes from taking hold in the first place.
Is there any one type of food that contributes most to diabetes?
We can’t say for certain that any one type of food, such as sugar, contributes the most to diabetes. Instead it’s more helpful, whether you are at risk of diabetes or not, to make a few simple dietary changes that limit your salt, sugar and fat intake (especially saturated and trans fats), and you can still continue to enjoy some of your favourite foods – just in moderation.
There are no special foods for diabetes. Instead there are foods that form part of a healthy diet for those with diabetes and everyone else. The dietitians at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre recommend a diet that is low in fat, with meals centred around wholegrain foods, vegetables and fruits.
For those with diabetes, there’s no need to go searching for those foods labelled “diabetes friendly” or “for diabetics”.
The most important thing is to learn about portion control and carbohydrate counting, which can help with blood glucose (sugar) management.
Other than excess body weight and poor diet, what else contributes to diabetes, or makes it worse?
For type 1 diabetes, which is not linked to a poor diet, the trigger is still not known.
Individuals who could be at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:
• Those who have a history of diabetes in their family.
• Those with an inactive lifestyle.
• People over 40.
What can be done to lower our risk of diabetes?
In 2007, the Gulf region was showing signs of high-risk factors for diabetes, mostly related to rising obesity rates and physical inactivity. Last year, the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas placed Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar among the top 15 countries worldwide for prevalence of the disease. The UAE is ranked 16th.
Although there seems to be a genetic predisposition to diabetes in the region, it is widely recognised that a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet have contributed to increased obesity, which in turn has fuelled the prevalence of diabetes in the Gulf. One indicator is an increased rate of diabetes among expatriates in the region as opposed to in their countries of origin, suggesting that genes are not the only factor at play. It is generally a lack of exercise with a high-fat, high-sugar diet that contributes to type 2 diabetes.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle and you have a very good chance of keeping type 2 diabetes, and its related complications, at bay.
