EARLY DETECTION, APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT ' ENSURE A LEGACY OF GOOD HEALTH

Abstract

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, and diabetes account for a large proportion of health care expenditure and these can be prevented (or at least delayed) by healthier diets, improved physical fitness and, in the case of the former, no tobacco use. Screening tests exist for many chronic diseases which can detect the disease while they are still asymptomatic. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of disease may lead to cures and better survival. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an ideal disease for early detection with simple measurement of timed blood glucose. Epidemiological studies on T2DM and the related metabolic syndrome have consistently detected undiagnosed individuals for every known individual with diabetes. There are known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing T2DM with family history, excess body weight, and previous gestational diabetes mellitus being prominent. T2DM is an important health care problem as it can lead to long term microvascular as well as cardiovascular complications.