Adopt a healthier lifestyle this World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries.
The World Diabetes Day campaign aims to:

• Be the platform to promote IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year
• Be the global driver to promote the importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue

The theme of World Diabetes Day 2016 is Eyes on Diabetes. The year’s activities and materials will focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.
Screening for type 2 diabetes is important to slow down disease progression and reduce the risk of complications. Diabetes is a huge and growing burden: 415 million adults were living with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in ten adults by 2040.1

One in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. Many people live with type 2 diabetes for a long period of time without being aware of their condition. By the time of diagnosis, diabetes complications may already be present. Up to 70% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthier lifestyles.

1. Eat small frequent meals: 3meals and 2-3 snacks daily
2. Plan balanced meals including at least three of these foodgroups:
   • fruits/vegetables, whole grain starches, low fat
   • Whole grains or whole wheat starches
   • Low fat meat or meat alternatives
   • Low fat or fat free dairy
3. Limit your intake of unhealthy fats; like saturated fats, transfat, and cholesterol.
4. Increase your fiber intake by eating whole fruits and vegetables and choosing whole grain breads and high fiber cereals or starches.
5. Limit your sugar intake by avoiding sugary cold drinks, sweets and chocolates.
6. Limit your salt intake by not adding salt to food during cooking and at the table as well as limiting your intake of processed food and take aways.
7. Drink lots of water every day.
8. Do exercises on most days of the weeks (aim for 150min per week of moderate exercise).
9. It is best to limit alcoholic beverages to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men.
10. Choose low GI foods and use the glycemic index to plan low GI healthy balanced meals.

By 2040, the number of people with diabetes in Africa is expected to double. Screening for diabetes complications is an essential part of managing all types of diabetes. In many countries diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and lower-limb amputation.

Let us join the rest of the world and do a screening test for diabetes this month. Go to www.adsa.org to find a registered dietitian near you for accurate dietary advice to prevent or manage diabetes.