The Silently Advancing Silent Danger: Diabetes

Diabetes, which has increased by 70 percent in the last 15 years in Turkey, is an insidious disease that can progress without symptoms for many years... It is estimated that about half of the people with diabetes in Turkey are still unaware of the disease. Family Physician Dr. Didem Altay Gazi from Central Hospital, who has linked the increase in diabetes in our country to sedentary life, increased consumption of fast food and obesity, says that the first step to protect against diabetes, which causes organ failure and reduces quality of life, says that even small changes in routine can significantly reduce insulin resistance.

According to international data, Turkey is the country with the highest prevalence of diabetes among European countries... Especially in adults aged 20—79, the incidence rate of diabetes is well above the European average. Over the past 15 years, cases of diabetes in Turkey have increased by 70 percent. Behind this rapid increase are changes in lifestyle and factors brought about by modern society.

Diabetes is an insidious disease that can progress for many years without symptoms. This is why it is called the “silent epidemic”. Many people may not feel anything even when their blood sugar reaches dangerous levels because they get used to blood sugar levels that slowly rise over time. According to recent studies, it is estimated that about half of individuals with diabetes in Turkey are unaware of the disease.

Diabetes insidiously progresses

Since diabetes manifests itself late, it gradually leads to organ and vascular damage. In the long term, it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, is among the most important causes of kidney failure, can lead to retinopathy in the eyes, even loss of vision, foot wounds can occur due to vascular obstruction, nerve damage, loss of sensation and serious infections, contracting bacterial and viral infectious diseases is more often observed in uncontrolled diabetes and skin diseases are more common in individuals with diabetes than in normal individuals. These complications progress silently for years, causing organ failure and making treatment difficult and reducing quality of life.

Family Physician Specialist Dr. Didem Altay Gazi from Central Hospital attributes the rapid increase of diabetes in our country in recent years to urbanization and sedentary life. “People living in big cities are moving less and less. The recent pandemic and the fact that working from home is more economical and popular, reducing time lost in the workforce, decreasing daily walking distances, increasing the time spent in front of the screen are among the most important reasons for the increase of diabetes cases,” said Dr. Dr. Altay Gazi, as muscle mass decreases, insulin resistance becomes inevitable, and with it diabetes He says he brought it. Dr. Altay Gazi, who noted that the disappearance of traditional Mediterranean culinary culture, which is a way of eating olive oil, vegetables, legumes and healthy meat, has also contributed to the increase in diabetes, “The increasing consumption of ready-made food, packaged products and fast food in the individuals of our country, which is competing with time, has eliminated the protective shield. In particular, refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks increase the risk of diabetes many times over,” he says.

Even small changes can significantly reduce insulin resistance

Turkey also ranks high in the rate of increase in obesity, such as diabetes... Obesity and diabetes have a cycle that triggers each other. Increased weight causes insulin resistance, making it even more difficult to lose weight in insulin resistance. Noting that the vicious cycle begins here, Specialist Dr. Altay Gazi says that it is possible to break this vicious cycle, and first of all, going through the check-up program for detailed blood tests is the first step.

The silent danger of our age summarizes the effective measures that can be taken against diabetes as restoring healthy eating habits, increasing daily movement, stress management with sleep and awareness of family risk, Dr. Altay Gazi continues: “Movement is the most important element that reduces the risk of diabetes by up to 30 percent. Movement helps keep blood sugar more balanced, so you need to take at least 7,000-10,000 steps daily, 3 to 4 days a week of brisk walking, and resistance exercises that increase muscle mass. At the same time to nutrition, which includes olive oil, vegetables and legumes should be bypassed, avoiding refined carbohydrates, limiting packaged snacks, and giving preference to water or unsweetened drinks instead of sugary drinks. Chronic stress and sleep disturbances increase cortisol levels, increasing insulin resistance. Regular and adequate night sleep, meditation and breathing exercises are especially important for individuals in the risk group. Even these small changes can significantly reduce insulin resistance.”