By Javid Hassan
During my 27 years of residence in the Kingdom before returning to India last year, I had noticed a fundamental difference in the lifestyle of western expatriates and those from south Asia. The former tended to be involved in professional or intellectual pursuits, which resulted in the launch of various publications articulating their experience in the Kingdom.
In fact, one of the books featuring the collective experience of western expatriates forms part of the media kit handed out to journalists by the Ministry of Information and Culture. South Asian expatriates, however, were prone to hosting parties or other social events, although they were no less dedicated than others on the job front.
It is against this background that the latest Urdu publication, “Diabetes kay sath sath” (“Together with Diabetes”) by Dr. Abid Moiz, nutritionist in the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, merits attention. The book, released in May this year, comes on the heels of the Urdu magazine Shagoofa’s Special Number (brought out last year) on a collection of his articles written in a lighter vein.
The point worth noting is that despite his social engagements, Dr. Moiz found time to come out with a well-researched book on diabetes, besides contributing humorous pieces to Shagoofa and Urdu Magazine, one of the publications of Saudi Research & Publishing Co., a leading publishing house in the Middle East.
Before taking the theme forward, let me recap the salient facts and figures from the book. Quoting the major findings of surveys conducted in India, Dr. Abid Moiz points out that the number of diabetics around the world is estimated at 171 million, of which every fifth patient is said to be an Indian. One of the principal causes for the incidence of diabetes in India, according to the author, is the genetic factor. Studies also indicate that in the US the chances of an American inheriting the genes of his diabetic father are 20%, while it is 30% in the case of an Indian.
Similarly, those susceptible to Type-II diabetes in the US and Europe fall in the 50-60 year age group as against 40-50 years for Indians. It has also been documented that Americans and other westerners are at risk of contracting diabetes with a BMI (Body Mass Index) reading of 30 or more, whereas the possibility of Indians becoming diabetic increases as the BMI reaches 25 or even higher.
Experts believe that the normal range of BMI among Indians and other south Asians should be fixed at 23 on a scale of 18-25, while it has been set at 25 for Americans. One of the predisposing factors for the incidence of diabetes in India is the sedentary lifestyle of its people compared to other nationals. The reason, says Dr. Moiz, is that we are fond of gabfest, do not participate in games and sports, and spend hours watching TV programs or films, for which we have acquired a dubious distinction, thanks to the Bollywood productions.
As far as the student community is concerned, the problem, he observes, is compounded by intense competition facing those pursuing higher studies. Not only are they deprived of recreational activities but also of an active lifestyle. A survey conducted in six metropolitan cities of India shows that at least 12% of the adult population there are diabetics. Hyderabad leads with a tally of 16.6%, followed by China (13.5%) and Bangalore (12.4%). By contrast, the figure stands at 6% each among the British and Americans.
The survey also revealed that 14% of the adult population in India suffers from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia, associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. Dysglycemia, also known as disturbed blood sugar regulation, results from a high intake of fatty diet, including junk food, sweets, carbonated and alcoholic beverages, together with lack of exercise.
In this context, I wish to add that south Asian expatriates, by and large, follow the same lifestyle, marked by the consumption of a rich diet with hardly any exercise. By contrast, I remained healthy, by God’s grace, largely due to my heightened sense of health consciousness induced by the call of duty. Going down the memory lane, I believe what sustained my health was a combination of the following factors: regular exercise; low-fat diet; stair climbing and distant car parking.
“Get fit in bits,” says a health tip received via sms on my mobile. “Look for in daily chores how to add movement into your life.” Accordingly, I always used to attend to my household chores, whether it was washing my own clothes, cleaning the car, or vacuum-cleaning the house on weekends. These activities were also embodied in the WHO message, “Move for health” that the World Health Organization has been promoting since 2002. Move for Health Day (MFHD) now marks the global day of physical activity for schools every year on May 7. In fact, Japanese students and the principal of their school sweep the premises every day in Dubai to underline the dignity of labor.
It might be a good idea if Bazm-e-Hindustani could organize an essay-writing contest on “Move for Health” next year to mark the occasion. Students could write in Urdu (or in the Roman script) on the benefits of leading an active lifestyle from the health point of view. The huge expenditure involved in the treatment of diabetes is a drain on the exchequer. What gives room for hope, as far as India is concerned, is that 95% of the diabetics fall in the category of Type-II diabetes, which is treatable if the patient reduces weight, is careful in his diet, and leads an active lifestyle. May 7, 2010 is an ideal occasion for holding such a contest.
As for this year, the topic for an elocution contest in Urdu could be H1N1, or the swine flu. The objective of the exercise is to raise the level of student’s awareness on health issues, which also underlines the theme of Dr. Abid Moiz’s book on diabetes. Overall, it is a valuable addition to health literature in Urdu, whose cause he has served admirably both in letter and in spirit.
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