Health x Wellness

Aetna’s Top 5 Tips for Preventing Diabetes

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Globally, Diabetes is expected to impact over 640 million people by 2040

About one in every 10 adults are at risk of suffering many life-threatening health complications associated with the disease. These include conditions such as blindness, cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure and lower limb amputation.

By 2040, nearly two in 10 of the world’s diabetics will be living in Southeast Asia. While the outlook seems bleak, it is surprising to learn that diabetes is largely preventable and controllable.

Derek Goldberg, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, Aetna International shares their top 5 tips for preventing diabetes


Reduce your risk
If you’re descended from one of these groups and are either overweight or over age 45, ask your doctor to test you for diabetes. This involves taking a fasting blood test and/or drinking a sugar solution to see how your body responds. Even if your blood sugar levels are normal now, doctors recommend the following prevention strategies — especially if your heritage puts you at greater risk.

Maintain a healthy body weight — If you’re overweight, losing just 5-7% of your body weight can cut your risk of diabetes in half.

Get active — Movement matters, so turn off the TV and take a brisk 30-minute walk most days of the week.

Eat well — You don’t have to give up everything you enjoy. Just adapt recipes and make choices that focus more on vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains and unsaturated fats and less on processed foods and meats, packaged baked goods, foods with refined flour or added sugar, and sugary or sugar-substitute drinks.

Take charge of your health — Be sure to go to the doctor to have your cholesterol, blood pressure, vision and other important health indicators checked out since diabetes often goes hand in hand with other conditions. And tell your doctor if you’ve been feeling down lately since depression can reduce motivation to exercise and eat well.

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