Doctors from Aster Prime Hospital share advice on World Diabetes Day
Hyderabad: Failure to keep diabetes under control can lead to several serious health complications, said Dr. Krishnamurthy Daram, Consultant General Physician at Aster Prime Hospital. He emphasized the importance of regular monitoring, following medical advice, and taking prescribed medications to manage blood sugar levels effectively.
Dr. Krishnamurthy noted that while diabetes was once common only among people over 50, it is now increasingly seen in individuals in their 20s. Speaking on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, he highlighted how Gen Z’s lifestyle and food habits are contributing to the rise of Type 2 diabetes.
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“Frequent consumption of fast food and processed food leads to excessive intake of calories, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats,” he said. “Items like bakery foods, samosas, pizzas, and pastries are driving obesity, which in turn causes insulin resistance—one of the main triggers of diabetes.”
He explained that Type 1 diabetes usually appears in childhood and requires lifelong insulin dependence, while Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by poor lifestyle choices, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity. In Type 2 cases, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells fail to respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
“Even teenagers aged 15–16 are now showing early signs of obesity and insulin resistance,” Dr. Krishnamurthy added. “When I finished my post-graduation in 2012, diabetes below 50 was rare. Now it’s common even among those in their 20s.”
Lifestyle changes are essential: He advised maintaining a healthy routine — waking up early, exercising for at least an hour daily, eating home-cooked meals, and avoiding staying up late or eating junk food at night.
South Indian food is the healthiest: “Traditional South Indian food is highly nutritious,” he said. “Curd provides probiotics, vegetables add fiber, rice offers carbohydrates, and lentils and millets are rich in protein. In contrast, pizzas, burgers, and pastries are full of refined flour and sugar with almost no nutrients.”
Recognizing diabetes early
Warning signs include excessive hunger or thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, tingling in hands and feet, recurring infections, slow healing wounds, and unexplained weight changes.
People above 45 years should get tested annually, and those with a family history of diabetes should begin screening earlier.
Keeping blood sugar under control
For good control, fasting blood sugar should remain between 100–110 mg/dL, post-meal sugar between 150–160 mg/dL, and HbA1c between 6.5–7%. Poor control over 5–10 years can lead to complications such as nerve damage, vision loss, kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes.
“Never stop medications just because you feel fine,” Dr. Krishnamurthy warned. “About 60–70% of patients undergoing dialysis have diabetes as the underlying cause.”
Comprehensive diabetes care at Aster Prime
Aster Prime Hospital provides complete diabetes management facilities, including a team of physicians, endocrinologists, neurologists, and cardiologists. The hospital also has a fully equipped cath lab and dietitian support for customized meal planning and weight management. Multidisciplinary collaboration ensures holistic care for diabetic patients.