The Christmas period has come and gone. You may have been indulging in fine chocolates, sweet and salty snacks, and over excessive amounts of alcohol. Tasty as it may have been, you may now find yourself slightly overweight, struggling to fasten your jeans, and suffering from underlying health problems caused by the festive binging. Unfortunately, due to the way their muscles burn fat, which causes insulin resistance; this means South Asians are six times more likely to be subject to Type II diabetes. Now, to all those who believe their diet is healthy and balanced – a word of warning: sugar levels can be fickle. Although you may eat healthily throughout the year, the festive period can throw sugar levels completely off the radar, which is a scenario I encountered in 2010, when a relative went into hyperglycaemic shock three days after the Christmas period ended.
South Asians make up four percent of the population, but account for nearly eight percent of the diabetes sufferers in Britain. The question is: How do we beat the sweet killer?
My Advice
• Look out for the signs – urinating more often than usual, particularly night feeling, very thirsty, feeling very tired, unexplained weight loss, itching around the genital region or frequent episodes of thrush, cuts or wounds that heal slowly and blurred vision (caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry)
• Book an appointment with your GP – Regular check-ups should be a priority in everyone’s schedule, but if you have seen some of the symptoms mentioned above, get it checked, just to be on the safe side
• Exercise – Being overweight doesn’t help diabetes in the slightest. Keep fit and active, and maintain a healthy weight
• Eat Right – Although it seems like the most delicious food are riddled with grease and hidden sugars, there are healthy alternatives that taste just as good, if not even better. Watch what you eat, and it will pay dividends.
