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Diabetes is a disease that can affect anyone regardless of age. Not only the elderly, but also young people. Therefore, it is important to identify the risk factors for diabetes so that you can prevent the occurrence of this disease and stay away from its complications.

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels inside the body. This condition occurs because the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use it effectively. Insulin is a hormone that plays a role in regulating blood sugar.

It is estimated that 9.1 million Indonesians have diabetes. Based on the age group, most people with diabetes are in the age range 55–74 years. However, this disease is also experienced by young people in their 20s to 40s.

Why are young people at risk for diabetes?

Diabetes indeed can be influenced by age factors. The older you get, the greater your risk of developing diabetes. This is thought to occur because the body is no longer able to produce the same amount of insulin as when it was young.

In addition, as you age, your body's cells may find it more difficult to use insulin, which results in sugar blood can more easily increase. However, this does not mean that young people are safe from diabetes.

The risk of diabetes can still occur in people who are young, especially if they have the following risk factors:

Obesity

People who are overweight or obese are at risk of developing diabetes. This happens because excess fat tissue in the body can make it difficult for the body to use insulin effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance.

In addition, obese people are also at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to diabetes.

Not maintaining their diet

Everyone, whether children, young adults, or even the elderly, will have a higher risk of developing diabetes if they don't maintain their diet properly.

The habit of frequently consuming sugary drinks or foods, soft drinks, and rarely consuming fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, are known to contribute to increasing the risk of diabetes.

Lazy to exercise

Lack of exercise can also increase the risk of developing diabetes in young age groups. This is because the body is less able to use glucose effectively as energy if you rarely move or exercise. As a result, blood sugar tends to increase easily and is difficult to control.

Genetic or hereditary factors

Genetic or hereditary factors are one of the risk factors for diabetes. Therefore, the risk of developing diabetes at a young age can also increase if you have family members, such as parents or siblings, who also suffer from this chronic disease.

Certain diseases

You are also at risk of developing diabetes if you have certain diseases, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Yuk , Take control of blood sugar right now

To prevent or reduce the risk of diabetes, you can do some the following steps to control blood sugar levels in the body:

1. Check blood sugar regularly

Check blood sugar can be done after fasting for 8-10 hours before meals and 1-2 hours after meals. A blood sugar test can be done in a laboratory or at home using a blood sugar checking device (glucometer). Don't forget to check the results when doing the examination.

For people who have diabetes risk factors, this blood sugar test can be done every 3–6 months. If your blood sugar is high, you can do a fasting blood sugar check and an HbA1C check to see if you have diabetes or not.

2. Maintain intake and diet

A good diet is one important step to prevent and control diabetes. You can maintain dietary patterns and intake in the following ways:

• Avoid foods that are high in calories, sugar, carbohydrates, saturated fats and trans fats, such as ice cream, sweet cakes, candy, chocolate , processed meats, and fatty meats.
• Eat foods high in fiber, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, including wheat or oatmeal.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks, sodas, or those that contain added sweeteners.
• Eat food slowly and control the portion of the meal using a small plate when eating.

3. Exercise regularly

Not only is it good for weight loss, it can also help you control blood sugar levels and prevent insulin resistance.

So take your time. at least 30 minutes a day for exercise. You can choose sports that are mild, such as walking leisurely, going up and down stairs at home, and yoga. During this pandemic, you should exercise indoors so you can continue to apply physical distancing.

4. Reducing stress

Stress can make it difficult for the body to control blood sugar. To reduce stress, you can try meditation, listen to music, do hobbies and other things you enjoy, or just share stories with friends and family.

5. Not smoking

Smoking can cause serious health problems and increase the risk of diabetes complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease and retinopathy.

Diabetes and COVID- 19

One of the effects caused by diabetes is a weakened immune system. Uncontrolled high blood sugar levels can interfere with the immune system's work, so that the body is less strong to fight various causes of infection, such as viruses and bacteria.

This is what makes diabetics a more vulnerable group. contracted COVID-19. Research has even shown that around 25% of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms are diabetics.

In addition, diabetics who test positive for the Corona virus are also said to be at risk of experiencing serious complications. , such as diabetic ketoacidosis and sepsis.

If you have one or more diabetes risk factors, take the diabetes prevention steps above and consult your doctor for appropriate treatment.

Don't hesitate to see your doctor if you experience symptoms of diabetes, such as feeling thirsty and very hungry, frequent urination, weight loss without cause, tingling or numbness, fatigue, blurred vision, or if there is a wound that won't heal.

Label : Health cat_Health