GUWAHATI, Jan 22: Obese yet want to live fat and sassy? Cut down extra calories and lose weight by limiting intake of simple sugars – bread, rice, sweetened drinks, pasta, potatoes, and sweet potatoes – to let your body burn them. Simple carbohydrates add to your blood sugar levels and produce more insulin.
According to Endocrinologist Dr Nilakshi Deka, Apollo Hospital, Guwahati controlling body weight is crucial in preventing the onset of Type 2 diabetes. “Obese people are three to seven times more likely to acquire Type 2 diabetes than those with normal weight,” she said.
Citing statistics, Dr. Deka said: “Out of the different forms of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90-95 per cent of all diagnosed cases. Research indicates that people who are obese are three to seven times more likely to acquire this condition than those with normal weight. The risk increases by 20 times in people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2. The more fat around the abdomen, the greater the Insulin resistance. This is truer in case of Indians.” “The leading trigger for Type-2 diabetes in Indians is obesity. Type-2 diabetes begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. With the increase in need for insulin, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. Irrespective of a person’s age, the risk of type 2 diabetes rises with increasing body weight,” Dr. Deka said, and added: “The most important step in preventing Type 2 diabetes is reduction in weight. Those who are obese should aim at limiting the intake of simple sugars such as bread, rice, sweetened drinks, pasta, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Simple carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels and the production of insulin. The goal for physical activity should be about 30 to 45 minutes, five times a week.” Even a 5 per cent reduction in body weight combined with regular to moderate intensity exercise, according to Dr. Deka, can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by more than 50 per cent. “People without diabetes and those with risk factors should also focus on consuming a healthy diet and maintain an ideal BMI,” she said.