From Awareness to Plan of Action: World Diabetes Day

This World Diabetes Day, dedicated to ‘Diabetes and Well-being’ in 2025, let’s get our priorities straight. Knowing how prevention is always better than cure, we, at Policybazaar.ae, want to ensure that you stay healthy and have a long, happy life. 

For this -

1. Recognise the early signs 
2. Take precautions with little lifestyle shifts
3. Prioritise health before anything else

To recognise the early signs of diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, you can answer the questions below:

1️⃣ Do you feel tired almost every day?

• Yes
• No

2️⃣ Have you lost too much weight recently?

• Yes
• No

3️⃣ Do you feel hungrier than usual?

• Yes 
• No

4️⃣ Do you often experience blurry vision?

• Yes 
• No

5️⃣ Do you urinate often, even at night?

• Yes 
• No 

If the answers to the questions above are ‘yes’, you should visit your general physician and seek consultation. These are usually considered early signs of diabetes. While it is not possible to cure the disease, following the physician’s instructions and lifestyle tweaks can help you manage the signs and even lead a happy and healthy life.

Here are some lifestyle tweaks along with a doctor’s instructions to lead a healthy life.

1. Exercise 🏃 regularly - Strive for at least 150 minutes of mild aerobic activity per week. You can go for brisk walks, swimming, or even biking. Try including strength training 2-3 times a week or as your physician recommends. 
2. Ditch fried 🍟⛔ and complex carbs 🍩⛔ - Make your daily diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, fruits, and whole grains. Avoid excess consumption of refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sweets. 
3. Keep a check on your blood sugar 🩸 - To understand your food pattern regularly and the effect of medication, check your blood sugar regularly. You should consult your doctor on how to check your sugar levels. 
4. Manage your weight 🚶- If you are obese or overweight, consider losing weight to manage your sugar levels. 
5. Be regular with your check-ups 🧑‍⚕️ - Your healthcare team would have created a comprehensive diabetes care plan for you. So, work as per their instructions and go for follow-ups as and when guided by them. 
6. Make sure you inform your insurer 📋- While this is not a lifestyle habit, disclose your condition to your health insurance provider. This saves you from a lot of last-minute out-of-pocket costs in case a health emergency occurs. 

Be patient with yourself 😌- Becoming more disciplined and building healthier habits takes time. Start your diabetes management journey by being patient and incorporating one small habit at a time. The idea is to be consistent and undefeated in this pursuit. 

Let’s together pledge alliance ✊ and control diabetes more healthily and smartly. Losing weight, eating well, and working out regularly provide major changes over time. Stay calm and manage diabetes.

Disclaimer: The information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a doctor for more details.