Sweet foods, snacks, and delicious beverages are things everyone enjoys, but excessive consumption can lead to serious health problems. Diabetes is one of the non-communicable chronic diseases that Thai people are currently facing. There are several million diabetes patients in Thailand, with an increasing trend every year. The situation of diabetes in Thailand has become a significant public health concern, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Diabetes is not just a condition of high blood sugar but also causes many dangerous complications.

What Causes Diabetes?

The question “what is the diabetes meaning?” has a complex answer. According to medical professionals studying diabetes in Thailand, the disease is caused by several factors combined:

1. Insulin abnormalities – the hormone that controls blood sugar levels may be caused by:

• Insufficient insulin production by the pancreas.
• Insulin resistance, preventing cells from utilizing sugar.

2. Genetics – the risk of diabetes tends to increase in people with a family history of diabetes

3. Behavior and environment – key factors causing more Thai people to develop diabetes:

• Consumption of foods high in sugar and carbohydrates.
• Lack of exercise.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Chronic stress.

Why Are More Thai People Developing Diabetes?

In the past few decades, Thai society has undergone rapid lifestyle changes, transitioning from an agricultural society to an industrial and technological one. Economic and social development has brought greater convenience but has also resulted in an alarming rise in diabetes in Thailand. The prevalence of diabetes across the country continues to increase each year, with both urban and rural populations affected. The reasons why many Thai people have diabetes include:

• Eating culture – Many Thai foods have hidden sugars, including savory dishes, desserts, and beverages. For example, a single plate of Pad Thai may contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar, exceeding the recommended daily sugar intake.
• Changing lifestyle – Thai people are moving less and spending more time at desk jobs. Thought question: Try to assess how many hours you spend sitting each day?
• Access to processed foods and fast food – which often contain high levels of sugar, fat, and starch.
• Lack of knowledge and awareness – about the risks and prevention of diabetes.

How to Prevent Diabetes

Many people may think that diabetes is an incurable disease and that once you have it, you must suffer for life. But in reality, diabetes, especially Type 2, is a disease that can be prevented with small lifestyle adjustments. The diabetes meaning in public health terms extends beyond just high blood sugar—it represents a condition that can often be prevented through proactive health measures. Many medical studies confirm that if you start taking care of yourself today, the chance of developing diabetes in the future will be significantly reduced.

Preventing diabetes is important, especially for at-risk groups, with the following methods:

1. Adjust Your Diet

• Reduce consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Increase consumption of vegetables, fruits (less sweet ones), and high-fiber foods.
• Choose quality proteins such as fish, beans, eggs.
• Drink water instead of sugary beverages.

Tip: Gradually reducing the amount of sugar in cooking will help maintain the taste of food without too much change, allowing your body to adapt.

2. Exercise Regularly

• Recommend aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.
• Increase movement in daily life, such as taking stairs or walking during work.
• Practice muscle-strengthening exercises at least 2 days per week.

Interesting alternatives: Dancing, housework, gardening, or favorite recreational activities also count as exercise.

3. Maintain Appropriate Weight

• Lose weight if overweight or obese.
• Maintain a Body Mass Index (BMI) within the normal range (18.5-24.9).

Did you know? Losing just 5-7% of your body weight can reduce your risk of diabetes by up to 58%.

4. Manage Stress

• Practice stress-relief techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga.
• Get enough sleep, 7-8 hours per night.
• Find activities you enjoy for relaxation.

5. Get Annual Health Check-ups

• Check blood sugar levels regularly, especially for those at risk.
• Monitor blood pressure and blood lipid levels.
• Consult a doctor if you have abnormal symptoms such as frequent thirst, frequent urination, fatigue.

Adjust Your Lifestyle Before Risking Diabetes

Lifestyle adjustment is key to preventing diabetes. You can start with:

1. Plan meals in advance – helps better control eating, such as preparing lunch boxes for work instead of buying street food that often contains high sugar and oil.
2. Learn to read nutrition labels – observe the amount of sugar and carbohydrates in food.
3. Cook at home – control ingredients and cooking methods.
4. Find exercise buddies – create motivation and fun.
5. Set achievable goals – gradually make changes for sustainability.

Warning Signs of Diabetes to Watch For

If you have the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor to check for diabetes:

• Frequent and excessive urination.
• Excessive thirst and drinking.
• Abnormal hunger.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Fatigue, getting tired easily.
• Blurry vision.
• Slow-healing wounds.
• Frequent infections.

Diabetes may not show clear symptoms in the early stages, so annual health check-ups are very important, especially for those with risk factors such as family history of diabetes, being overweight, or being over 45 years old.

Worth knowing : If blood sugar levels start to rise but haven’t yet reached the threshold for diabetes, it’s called “Pre-diabetes,” which can still be prevented from developing into diabetes if behavior is appropriately adjusted.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a preventable disease in many cases, especially Type 2 diabetes. Understanding the true diabetes meaning involves recognizing it as a lifestyle disease that can be managed and often prevented. Lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, rest, and stress management, play an important role in reducing risk.

Creating awareness and providing knowledge about diabetes to Thai people is necessary to reduce the number of new patients and help those who already have diabetes to control the disease effectively. With the rising cases of diabetes in Thailand, education and prevention have become national health priorities.

Don’t wait until your body sends warning signals. Start changing your lifestyle to stay away from diabetes today because prevention is always better than treatment.

For those who want to lose weight properly for sustainable good health, at Chula Doctor Clinic, we have a team of expert doctors ready to provide consultation and comprehensive treatment plans. With specialized expertise in properly caring for overweight patients to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. As diabetes in Thailand continues to rise, having access to professional medical guidance is more important than ever.

Consult with health specialists at Chula Doctor Clinic because good health begins with proper and appropriate care.