Popular Science： How much do you know about the harm and prevention of diabetes？

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 14th (Reporter Ge Chen) November 14th is the United Nations Diabetes Day, and this year’s theme is "Health Management of Diabetes for All". In recent years, it is alarming that the incidence of diabetes is rising and the patient population is getting younger. The United Nations has repeatedly called on countries to pay attention to improving the care of diabetic patients in order to control the disease and avoid complications.

　　According to the data released by the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently about 537 million adult diabetic patients in the world, which is equivalent to one in every 10 adults suffering from the disease. In addition, about 541 million adults around the world have impaired glucose tolerance, which means they are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

　　Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, which is mainly manifested in that the pancreas can’t secrete enough insulin or the body can’t effectively use the produced insulin, resulting in an increase in blood sugar concentration. Over time, diabetes may damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, and it is the main cause of blindness, renal failure, heart attack, stroke and amputation of lower limbs.

　　There are two main types of diabetes: patients with type 1 diabetes usually can’t secrete insulin themselves, and they need insulin injections to maintain their lives; Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of the total number of diabetes cases, and patients cannot effectively use insulin.

　　Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, while type 2 diabetes is usually the result of overweight and insufficient physical activity. Facts show that simple lifestyle changes can effectively prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, persisting in physical exercise, ensuring a healthy diet and not smoking.

　　The research on drugs and treatments for diabetes is constantly expanding, and insulin is still one of the most effective treatments for diabetes.

　　Studies have found that diabetes increases the risk of death in patients with COVID-19. Medical experts call for paying great attention to and implementing diabetes management in the context of preventing and controlling COVID-19 from five aspects: nutrition therapy, exercise therapy, drug therapy, blood sugar monitoring and health education.