Obesity and being overweight are some of the top health concerns around the world. According to figures from the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), four out of 10 20-year-old beneficiaries have excess body mass and the trend continues to increase. Although the most worrying thing is that this condition is a determining factor that causes or at least increases the risk of developing multiple diseases and conditions.
The body mass index (BMI) is an indicator that helps us to know if a person suffers from this disease. This parameter can be found after dividing a person’s weight by their height and the result of squaring it. If you get a number greater than 25, you are overweight; if the number is greater than 30, it is obesity.
“A high BMI is a risk factor that can lead to chronic diseases and metabolic complications such as diabetes or hypertension. Together with a good diet and exercise, monitoring of these diseases is vital, since periodic controls allow timely detection and better control of the disease, ”says Dr. Roberto Santos Gzz. Consumer and Home Products / Medical Affairs de Kabla, a leading company in the distribution of timely diagnostic tests in the country.
The importance of a timely diagnosis
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that obesity can predispose people to the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure or heart attack; cerebrovascular diseases, which can end in stroke or stroke; some types of cancer, fatty liver, polycystic ovary, joint problems, psychosocial problems and diabetes, among others.
According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the three main causes of death in Mexico, between January and August 2020, were heart disease, COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus, in that order. Among the top 10 causes were other obesity-related conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease and liver disease.
Diabetes, the silent disease
Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by low insulin production or because the insulin produced by the pancreas does not work properly due to factors such as overweight and obesity, in addition to lack of exercise. This disease is chronic, that is, it has no cure but it can be controlled.
The diabetes It is known as the ‘silent killer’, because at first it does not show symptoms. Because of this, it is important to have regular tests to measure the level of sugar in the blood, at least every three years or as the doctor indicates it. The test for diabetes is simple: a drop of blood is taken from a fingertip and poured into a strip.
In case the result is positive, or there are doubts about the diagnosis, an additional test with blood from the vein should be performed to confirm the result. In this scenario, a rigorous medical control, daily tests and changes in habits, both eating and physical activity, begin immediately to avoid complications.
People with diabetes must keep their blood glucose levels under control to avoid some of the risks associated with the disease. There are several glucometers on the market that provide reliable and accurate results. In this way, it is possible to know in what parameters the glucose levels are, and thus make better decisions to keep the disease under control.