60 per cent of world's diabetes will come from Asia: US expert

With diabetes projected to affect 380 million by 2030, there's some bad news for Asia with a noted American physician and researcher warning that 60 per cent of the world's diabetes will eventually come from the continent because of its population, dietary habits of people and weaker environmental laws.
"The number of individuals with impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes will increase substantially because of increased genetic susceptibility to the harmful effects of sugar and processed food," says Mark Hyman.
Hyman, MD, founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Centre and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, has come out with a book "The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!" in which he tells how to lose weight and prevent not just diabetes but also heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer is balanced insulin levels.

"Interestingly, people in this Asian population (who are uniquely susceptible to diabetes even though they may not be obese) are increasingly affected as they adopt a more Western diet. Weaker environmental laws and regulations also expose them to increasing levels of toxins, which are a significant cause of diabesity," he writes.
Hyman describes the seven keys to achieving wellness: boosting nutrition, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, improving digestion, maximising detoxification, enhancing energy metabolism, and soothing the mind in the book, published by Hachette.
With advice on diet, green living, supplements and medication, exercise, and personalising the plan for optimal results, the book also teaches readers how to maintain lifelong health.

Diabesity, the continuum of health problems ranging from mild insulin resistance and overweight to obesity and diabetes, is the single biggest global health epidemic of our time, he says.

"It is one of the leading causes of heart disease, dementia, cancer and premature death and is almost entirely caused by environmental and lifestyle factors. This means that it is almost 100 per cent preventable and curable," Hyman writes.
He also suggests a six-week action plan: eat medicines, optimise metabolism with nutritional supplements, relax mind and heal body, fun and smart exercise, living clean and green, and personalising the programme.
"The six-week action plan is a practical six-step, six- week programme you can do on your own, or in partnership with your healthcare provider. It also shows you how to create a community of support for yourself," he says.

According to Hyman, insulin resistance is the major cause of aging and death in the developed and most of the developing world.
"Even if you have perfectly normal sugar, you may be sitting on a hidden time bomb of disease called diabesity, which prevents you from losing weight and living a long healthy life," he warns.