Our family history may increase the chances of having iabetes, but our daily habits that determine weather or not we actually have it.

According to Dr Subramanian Kannan, Senior Consultant, Director - Endocrinology and Diabetology, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, diabetes is far more than a result of eating too much sugar. It is a chronic, degenerative condition that develops silently over years, and can lead to severe consequences if unchecked.

"Symptoms are often ignored like blurred vision gets dismissed as too much screen time, sudden weight loss is brushed off as stress, and onstant fatigue becomes just life. By the time many people seek help, the damage may already be underway," he explained.

Worldwide, the numbers are even more alarming. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 million adults currently live with diabetes, and that may reach up to 853 million by 2050. On World Diabetes Day (14th November), Dr Kannan shared that it is time for a mindset shift, from passive acceptance to active prevention. Here is everything he shared with us.



Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes often has a silent onset. While the classic symptoms include irresistible thirst, frequent urination, and relentless hunger, several other red flags frequently slip under the radar.

"Unexplained weight loss occurs when the body can't effectively use sugar, breaking down muscle and fat for energy. This leaves people feeling drained despite eating normally. Blurred vision can also occur due to fluid fluctuations that affect the lenses of the eyes. Other warning signs include slow-healing cuts, recurring infections, skin rashes, UTIs, or yeast infections. High blood sugar weakens the immune system, making the body quite vulnerable," he added.

The recognition of such subtle changes early provides a head start because early diagnosis can lead to timely intervention and a reduction in complications involving the kidneys, nerves, or heart.

How is Stress A Diabetes Trigger

Dr Kannan said that the very real effect of stress on diabetes itself is specific. Stress can interferes with sleep, feeds anxiety or depression, or changes eating behaviour, which starts a physiological chain reaction. This reaction turns on the insulin-cortisol axis, affecting blood sugar levels and, over time, making a body more resistant to insulin.

In simpler words, untreated stress does not only affect your mental health, but it also rewires your metabolism.

 



How To Protect Children From Genetic Diabetes?

Dr Kannan further continued to highlight that one of the most disturbing recent trends is the increase in Type 2 diabetes among the young. In 2021, 41,600 children and teenagers were diagnosed worldwide. Genetics may play a role for a child, but the major contributing factors are poor diets and lack of physical activity.

Food containing a lot of sugar, artificially sweetened drinks, and highly processed snacks cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. The pancreas starts to overwork, releasing extra insulin until, over time, it just cannot keep up anymore. The result of this process is insulin resistance and diabetes.

If you want to protect your children from diabetes, know that it all begins with a change in mindset. Dr Kannan emphasised that food is for fuel, not reward. He suggested that the daily intake of sugar in children and adolescents should be below 25 grams, or six teaspoons. Replacing processed foods with fibre-rich ones-fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, acts like a speed breaker, slowing the absorption of sugar and supporting energy levels.

Bottomline

Having a parent or grandparent with diabetes does not seal your fate. The science suggests that habits related to diet, stress management, sleep, and physical activity can dramatically reduce risk, even among genetically predisposed people. Your genes may nudge you, but your choices lead the way, diabetes is preventable, manageable, and not your destiny.