Diabetes Awareness Month

Just last November, we commemorated Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide epidemic. As of 2017, nearly 427 million people worldwide have diabetes and almost half a million Singaporeans live with this illness. The implications associated with diabetes should suffice to get people to start adopting healthier lifestyle habits, yet, its prevalent rate is only increasing.

 

 

Impact Of Diabetes

Diabetes affects the quality of an individual’s life, and this is exceptionally evident in the workforce. In the US, diabetes was responsible for $4.4 billion lost due to early retirement, $31.7 billion due to disability and $0.5 billion due to increased sick leave. Diabetes, results in a loss of productivity at an alarming rate.

 

The war on diabetes is strong, with Singapore’s government announcing the probability of banning the sales of higher sugar pre-packaged Sugar-Sweetened Beverages(SSBs). There are plans to also impose a tax on manufacturers and importers of pre-packaged SSBs to encourage the industry to cut down on the amount of sugar they place in their products.

With such actions from the government, it sends a clear message of just how much diabetes is a concern in Singapore. Hence, as Singaporeans, we must all do our part to avoid becoming a slave to this disease.

So, we would like to share some tips on how to manage diabetes in the workplace so that this illness does not affect your productivity at work.

 

  1. Plan And Pack Daily Meals

Diabetics are advised not to skip any meals as this might cause a drastic drop in blood sugar levels, a condition known as hypoglycemia. In serious cases, this condition can lead to dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness and even death.

This is why it is important for diabetics to plan their meals. When employees plan and prepare their own meals, they can control the amount of seasoning that goes into their food. They can also have their meals whenever they feel the need to, to prevent their blood sugar from dropping too low.

 

 

  1. Fight Food Temptation

The office is a place full of hard-to-resist snacks. It is very tempting to help yourself to the sweets in the staff pantry and very hard to resist the cake when you celebrate your colleague’s birthday. Something you can try is to keep healthy snacks in your desk to munch on when you feel peckish and if you do indulge, go for smaller portions to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

 

 

  1. Make Time To Move

Make time to move around if you hold a desk-bound job, even if it is just a short 30-minute walk. Spend part of your break stretching or even brisk walking around your office. This gets your body moving and your heart pumping.

 

 

According to the American Diabetes Association, resistance training is paramount for diabetics as it helps with blood sugar control. In fact, moderate to high intensity resistance training is encouraged for diabetics to be done at least 3 times a week to maximize its benefits.

 

 

Resistance Training can also help in the prevention and reversal of prediabetes.

 

 

When we engage in resistance training regularly, we build up muscle mass in our body. The body uses glucose to power the muscles and this helps to regulate glucose levels in the body. As we age, the muscles in our body start to deteriorate and we won’t be able to utilize the glucose in our bodies efficiently. Hence, we must engage in regular resistance training to prevent this from happening.

 

 

At Fitness Factory, we do not adopt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ fitness solution; we customize every single program to meet individual needs. Medical history and lifestyle habits are just some of the factors we look into when we design your workout plan. To find out more about our services, contact us at +65 6535 0851 or visit us at 82 Boat Quay, #02-01.

 

Source:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/moh-consults-public-banning-taxing-sugary-drinks-fight-diabetes-10995882

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361091/

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/strength-and-resistance-training-exercise

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