Novo Nordisk

Editorial (Sunday World)

Examining the link between fat and diabetes

Dr Molefe-Osman, Medical Advisor, Novo Nordisk South Africa
Many of us think about losing weight when we want to fit into a killer pair of jeans, but
theres way more to being overweight than not being able to sport the latest fashion.
The shocking truth is that being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing
diabetes by up to 60%. In fact, so closely is excess weight linked to the development of
diabetes that experts have coined a new term to describe the condition: diabesity.
So what exactly is diabetes and how does being overweight increase your chances of
developing it?
Diabetes is a chronic condition distinguished by abnormally high blood glucose levels. It
occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to process glucose in the
bloodstream, and complications can be severe.
There are three types of diabetes, Types 1, 2, and 3. Of these, Type 2 is by far the most
common, accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. Luckily, its also the most
preventable.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body produces absolutely no insulin and the
person living with the condition is totally dependent on regular insulin injections. This
type of diabetes often runs in families and presents for the first time at a young age.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition - usually lifestyle related - in which the body slowly
becomes unable to process glucose in the bloodstream over a fairly long period of time.
A history of diabetes in your family increases your chance of developing this type of
diabetes too. It usually presents for the first time in adulthood, although more and more
kids and teens are developing it as well. People living with Type 2 diabetes may respond
to a number of different treatments including a healthy diet, exercise and oral
medication, and are not necessarily insulin dependent.
Type 3 or gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and can put the mother at risk of
severely elevated high blood pressure, which is dangerous for both her and her child.
Closely monitored treatment throughout pregnancy and, if necessary, afterwards too is
essential.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the three types together
account for an incidence rate of two million people in South Africa 1, and healthcare
professionals
estimate
that
this
is
only
the
tip
of
the
iceberg.

1 World Diabetes Federation: https://www.idf.org/BRIDGES/map/south-africa (accessed 14 October 2015).

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The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, says its no exaggeration to say that the country
is facing a diabetes crisis. The Department estimates that only half of the people living
with the condition have been diagnosed, and that many of those who have been
diagnosed are not achieving good treatment outcomes.
Most concerning for healthcare authorities is the rising incidence of diabesity. Type 2
diabetes, in particular, is associated with lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of
exercise and being overweight or obese. This is partly due to the lifestyle changes
caused by rapid urbanisation.
For the first time in history, there are more people living in cities than in rural areas. City
dwellers are usually a lot more sedentary than their rural counterparts and their diet
contains much more processed food, which is often high in fat and sugar. This is a deadly
combination, as it raises their risk of becoming overweight and developing diabetes
considerably.
Given the trend towards urbanisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates
that about 2 billion people worldwide are now overweight. Approximately 98 million of
these are severely obese, which means they are more than 45 kilogrammes over their
ideal weight2.
But how do you know if youre at your ideal weight or whether that tummy roll is a
health hazard?
The best way to do this is to calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI. Simply divide your
weight in kilogrammes by your height in metres squared. So if you weigh 75
kilogrammes and are 1.60 metres in height, the calculation would be: 75 2.56 (1.60 x
1.60), giving you a BMI of 29.30.
People with a BMI of 25 to 30 are considered to be overweight, while those with a BMI of
over 30 are considered obese. And every kilogramme of excess weight is associated with
a 9% increase in the risk of developing diabetes. In fact, between 80% and 90% of
people diagnosed with diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis.
Healthcare professionals therefore urge people who are overweight and possibly at risk
of developing diabetes to have themselves tested for the condition because early
detection vastly improves treatment outcomes.
The symptoms to look out for include weight loss, frequent urination, lack of energy,
excessive hunger, blurry vision, excessive thirst, sexual problems and frequent vaginal
infections in women. People experiencing any of these symptoms should seek medical
attention immediately and should request diabetes testing.
As importantly, at-risk individuals should inform themselves about the best ways in
which to prevent the development of diabetes or to manage the condition should they be
diagnosed. The first step is to take a long, hard look at those extra kilos.
The startling reality is that if no-one in South Africa were overweight or obese, only 1%

Source: Dr Molefe-Osman, Novo Nordisk South Africa (accessed 29 October 2015).

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of the population would be living with diabetes, compared to the 8.3% estimated to be
living with the condition. This means that the current number of about 4.4 million people
with diabetes, many of them undiagnosed, would drop to around 530,0003.
Luckily, the secret to reducing your risk of developing diabetes is pretty straightforward:
keep to a BMI of 25 or under, eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh veggies, and get
regular, enjoyable exercise. If youve already been diagnosed with diabetes, stick to your
treatment regime too and make sure you have regular check-ups. If you do this, theres
no
reason
you
shouldnt
have
a
normal,
active
life.
In case youre overweight and feel you might be at risk of developing diabetes, get
tested and get treatment. Also, ask your doctor to recommend a healthy diet based on
your specific needs and cut back on foods like bread, sweets, cakes, pies and processed
cheeses and meats. Aim for a long-term change to healthy eating habits rather than
short-term dieting.
Enjoyable aerobic exercise such as walking, dancing, swimming or playing sport will
further reduce the risk of developing diabetes or assist in managing the condition.
The bottom line is that prevention is in our hands. Aove all, trimming down to a healthy
weight will drastically reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

End.
Word Count (including headings): 1,088
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 91 years of leadership in diabetes care. The
company, which is dedicated to consistent innovation, also has leading positions in haemophilia
care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Headquartered in Denmark,
Novo Nordisk employs approximately 35 000 employees in 75 countries, and markets its products
in more than 190 countries. For further information, visit www.novonordisk.com or
www.changingdiabetes.co.za.
Editorial Contact:
Lebo Madiba
PR Powerhouse
+27 (0)82 392 5339
lebo@prpowerhouse.co.za

Based on a population figure of 52.98 million (2013).

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