Mature women with diabetes have excessive waist circumference and difficulty controlling blood sugar

Is it okay if I have a normal weight? Be careful about "false obesity" which can also increase the risk of diabetes worsening and death! According to data from the National Health Administration, nearly 70% of diabetic patients over the age of 40 in China have an overweight or obese BMI, but 60% do not take any measures to control their weight. Even among those with normal weight, nearly 50% of female patients have waist circumferences that exceed the standard, which is more than 3.5 times the proportion of male patients. Long-term unfavorable blood sugar control may increase the risk of amputation and death.

The National Health Administration calls on diabetics to control their blood sugar through weight control, regular exercise, regular medication, healthy diet, and self-monitoring of blood sugar. (Photography by Luo Huiwen)

Cannot be taken lightly! Diabetes kills one person every hour

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, diabetes claimed 9,845 lives in 2014, with an average of one person dying every hour. For diabetics, controlling blood sugar is a lifelong task. If blood sugar is not properly controlled, it may cause irreversible systemic lesions of large and small nerves and nerves, resulting in complications such as stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, retinopathy, foot necrosis, and subsequent amputation.

Nearly 50% of mature female diabetics have excessive waist circumference and difficult to control blood sugar

Lin Liru, acting head of the National Health Administration's Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Group, said that moderate weight loss can effectively reduce insulin resistance and help stabilize blood sugar control. However, according to the results of the National Health Administration's "102nd National Health Interview Survey", nearly 70% of diabetic patients over the age of 40 have an overweight or obese BMI, of which 58.9% of female patients and 51.3% of male patients have no habit of controlling their weight.

It is worth noting that the survey also found that among diabetic patients over 40 years old, the proportion of "pseudo-obese" women with normal BMI but waist circumference greater than 80 cm accounted for 49.8%, which is more than 2.7 times higher than the 13.2% of male patients with excessive waist circumference. The standard waist circumference for women must be less than 80 cm, and for men it must be less than 90 cm.

Diabetic patients should wear appropriate clothing, shoes, socks and other protective items when exercising, and should never exercise barefoot.

Chiu Shu-ti, director of the National Health Administration, said that waist circumference can reflect the amount of abdominal obesity, and thus the accumulation of visceral fat. If the waist circumference exceeds the ideal size, the fat tissue accumulated in the abdomen will affect the body's metabolism, leading to increased blood triglyceride levels and blood sugar, and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In addition to looking at weight and BMI, people should also pay attention to waist circumference to avoid becoming a small "belly" woman in order to prevent the occurrence of diabetes.

Exercise stabilizes blood sugar. This is more secure.

How can we control blood sugar and avoid or reduce the occurrence of various subsequent chronic complications? The National Health Administration provides "5 Tips for Controlling Sugar", suggesting that people manage their own health by controlling their weight, exercising regularly, taking medication regularly, eating a healthy diet, and self-monitoring their blood sugar. Among them, when it comes to exercise, diabetic patients should take protective measures such as "ask, guard, carry, accompany, and warm".

【Five tips for people with diabetes to exercise】

• "Ask" - Ask your doctor: It is recommended to discuss with your doctor the exercise prescription that is suitable for your condition. You should consider the type, time, frequency and intensity of exercise, and match it with your daily routine to find an exercise that is suitable for you and start gradually.

• "Protection" - Proper protection: Wear appropriate clothing, shoes, socks and other protective items, and never exercise barefoot.

• "Bring" - Carry with you: Carry glucose tablets, sugary juice, biscuits, etc. with you, so that you can eat them immediately in case of hypoglycemia.

• "Companion" - Invite others to join in: Carry a "diabetes passport" or diabetes identification document with you to avoid exercising alone.

• "Warm up" - Do enough warm-up: Do appropriate warm-up and slow exercises before and after exercise, and increase the intensity of exercise slowly.