How an ill mother can give birth of a healthy child

How an ill mother can give birth of a healthy child who will once determine the future of a nation…!!!On this Children’s Day a famous quote of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country” reminds us the necessity of women empowerment and their wellbeing which are mostly neglected in our male dominated society. Every year on 14 th November we celebrate both children’s day and World Diabetes Day. Today to create a buzz on Diabetic free world we will let you know the facts of Diabetes.

Diabetes  is one of the worst metabolic disease .This  is caused by the insufficiency of pancreatic function that means when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin (the sugar regulator hormone) or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Hence it is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the world which takes lives of lakhs of people every year.

World Diabetes Day was launched in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the WHO in response to the rapid rise of diabetes around the world. To raise more awareness and to provide a proper care every year World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14.

In 2017, members of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) decided to throw some light on the growing concerns of women who are diabetic. As the theme for 2017, the organisation is on a mission to make people more aware about ‘Women and Diabetes’, especially for those who are pregnant and how their newborn may be affected by the condition.

The main objective of this year’s campaign is to promote the importance of affordable and equitable access to medical care for all women. Along with medication, it is important that they learn the factual information they require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to prevent Type 2 diabetes, hence the project will also focus on that.

According to the statics, currently there are over 199 million women living with diabetes and this total is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040.

Gender roles and power dynamics influence vulnerability to diabetes, affect access to health services and health-seeking behaviour for women, and amplify the impact of diabetes on women.

Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths each year, IDF  urges  all to take necessary action. Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide. Women with diabetes have more difficulty conceiving and may have poor pregnancy outcomes. Also, one in seven births is affected by gestational diabetes.

There are many myths and stigmas attached to diabetics and pregnancy, as per the observation of IFD stigmatisation  and discrimination faced by people with diabetes are particularly pronounced for girls and women, who carry a double burden of discrimination because of their health status and the inequalities perpetrated in male-dominated societies.

As per the IFD guidelines following are few measures that must be adopted to help to bring about a change in this scenario:

* All women with diabetes should have access to pre-conception planning services to reduce risk during pregnancy.

IDF estimates that 20.9 million of live births to women in 2015 had some form of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy. Approximately half of women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) have the chance to develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years after delivery.

* All women and girls should have access to physical activity to have a healthy life. Promoting opportunities for physical exercise especially in adolescent girls, particularly in developing countries, must be a priority for diabetes prevention.

* Women with type 1 diabetes have a greater risk of early miscarriage or having a child with malformations. Hence, screening for diabetes and GDM should be integrated into other maternal health services. As an early detection ensure better care for women and reduced maternal mortality.

* Type 2 diabetes prevention strategies must focus on maternal health and nutrition and other health behaviours before and during pregnancy, as well as infant and early childhood nutrition.

* Antenatal care visits during pregnancy must be optimised for health promotion in young women and early detection of diabetes and GDM.

How to prevent yourself to be a Diabetic??

Following are few tips to get of diabetes:

Family history:

First of all find out your family history of diabetes . You inherit a predisposition to the condition and then something in your environment triggers it, especially if there is a history of obesity. Type 2 diabetes has a stronger connection to family history and obesity than type 1, however, with proper diagnosis on time it can be kept under control.

Lifestyle modification: Sedentary lifestyle, eating more junk and fatty food, aerated drinks, and erratic meal habits – all contribute towards the risk of having diabetes. So, by an intensive lifestyle modification, adopting of healthy diets and increased physical activity, type 2 diabetes can be prevented.

Obesity: Gaining weight may make you susceptible to diabetes. Try to maintain ideal body weight that is to keep the BMI less than 22.9 Kg /m2 and waist circumference to less than 90 cm in male and 80 cm in females. Get rid of excess weight through a regimented diet and exercise plan. There are no shortcuts to lose weight. Weight loss and a good diet can even reverse pre-diabetes.

Food habits and balanced diet: Eating at right time, an appropriate amount of a balance carbohydrates, fats and proteins with fruits and vegetables. Not going on an empty stomach for long hours and not missing the meals are important. Studies have shown that missing breakfast increases the risk of developing diabetes. Replace heavy meals after prolong gap with small healthy snacks to munch on. Try to replace your normal rice with brown rice and refined flour with whole grains.

Exercise regularly: From a brisk walk to yoga, exercise daily for at least for 30 to 45 minutes. Sedentary habits are contributing in a big way to increasing incidences of diabetes. Also, taking a break from the exercise could up the risks. So make sure to take small breaks in between your work.

Adequate sleep: Not just food and exercise but proper rest is also very important. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every day is a must as our body rejuvenates itself during sleep by eliminating the toxins which accumulate during the time we are awake. Late nights and late morning also up the risk of having diabetes and hypertension.

Manage stress: Stress has invaded every part of human life in today’s world. From kids to elderly stress has become all-encompassing. With too much work and not active break or recreational activities that make us happy and content, we risk ourselves to many diseases and diabetes is one of them. While this needs to be addressed at a higher level, it is essential that a person find ways to mitigate this stress.

Regular checkups: Regular blood sugar monitoring, essential intake of medicines and a review check-up with your family physician at regular intervals is must.

Like every year to celebrate this day Turnstone Global has organised debates, cultural programs in different schools and do awareness camps at various colleges on reproductive and maternal health issues. Simultaneously we have distributed various game Accessories, food items and sweets among the children of our orphanage and slums at Barrackpur and Ultadanga slum respectively