“A little diabetes is never trivial and can cause big damage”: endocrinologist Ingrid Julier explains how to prevent the disease

Ingrid Julier: “A healthy lifestyle helps prevent diabetes”. – K. H.

On the occasion of diabetes prevention week, endocrinologist Ingrid Julier, head of the metabolic diseases department at Nîmes University Hospital, reminds us of the risks and gives advice on healthy living.

Type 2 diabetes is constantly on the rise. Why ?

Today in France, this most common diabetes (90%) is on the rise. There are 4 million sick people in France, probably even 5 million. Many discover their illness late because it is asymptomatic. In Gard, 50,000 people are diabetic, a prevalence rate of 6.45% higher than the national average. It is a disease linked to precariousness and poverty. ;rsquo;obesity.

Before, diabetes was the disease of the elderly, today, it frequently appears around 40-50 years of age. diet and physical activity.

Are junk food and excess sugar the main causes??

We always think of sugar but be careful, a meat-cheese-red wine diet can also create diabetes. And there is no such thing as small diabetes as I hear too often.

What are the risks?

This chronic illness can cause great damage. You have to think about your health in the long term. Diabetes blocks the large vessels and leads to stroke, heart attack, blindness and amputation, but also erectile dysfunction and genital mycoses. The younger you develop diabetes, the more the theoretical life expectancy will be impacted.

Hypertension, obesity, smoking, cholesterol further increase the risks.

A prevention stand Thursday June 6 at the University Hospital

Thursday June 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the central hall of the Carémeau University Hospital, the metabolic and endocrine diseases department will host a diabetes prevention stand and will answer questions from patients and visitors. ;#39;association of diabetics of Gard (AFD30) chaired by Rosine Portero will also be present. "We diagnose nearly 400 new cases of diabetes 2 per year", she explains.

Can diabetes be prevented?

To avoid triggering it, a good diet, a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity are essential. It is important to eat balanced and not too much! It is necessary to pay attention to the ratio between calories absorbed and energy expenditure.

And practice regular physical activity. For example, 68 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity every day reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But already one hour three times a week or half an hour a day is good. We are not talking about sport but about physical activity (walking, taking the stairs, mowing the lawn, doing housework, etc.). We have to move! To get (back) into it, suitable physical activity can be prescribed on prescription!

When diabetes is declared what can we do ?

Diabetes is an irreversible chronic disease but physical activity remains essential. It really helps to improve symptoms and take fewer medications. A study compared a cohort of patients who took tablets with another who did appropriate physical activity and had a diet; the latter had better controlled diabetes.

In the overall care of patients, therapeutic education helps them to adopt and maintain new lifestyle habits.

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