Reversing the diagnosis
Experts reveal how to beat four common conditions
Adiagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, depression, high blood pressure or high cholesterol is very common, linked to being overweight. Individually, these conditions are often brushed off as minor inconveniences, but they often develop together and the end result can be devastating.
Type 2 diabetes now affects younger people and leads to years of disability and pain, and it shortens lives more than many cancers.The good news is there’s plenty you can do to help yourself.
Diet and lifestyle changes, medication and support to manage these conditions can all help, but many GPs now believe in helping their patients act to try to reverse their diagnosis. It takes commitment and effort, but these diagnoses don’t have to mean acceptance of a lifelong condition.
Instead they provide the trigger to accept the help and support on offer and take some control over your health and your future.
Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are similar in that being overweight is usually the underlying cause, so they all benefit from a similar approach in treatment.
The trigger for depression is more complex, but being overweight contributes. And a healthy diet and exercise can help treat it.
“Staying healthy isn’t complicated,”said Sir Harry Burns, former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland and now director of global public health at Strathclyde University.
“Keep the weight down by avoiding highcalorie meals. Take regular exercise. You don’t need to do anything fancy, a brisk 20-minute walk each day helps burn the calories and keeps the muscles in shape. If you can walk with friends and in nice, green surroundings, you’ll find your mental health improves, too. Finally, absolutely don’t ever smoke and keep the alcohol intake within sensible limits.”