A recent study conducted by Hospital, Chennai, on the awareness and lifestyle changes related to type 2 diabetes among 150 IT workers was published in the International Journal of Medicine and Public Health. It revealed that skilled IT professionals lack adequate health awareness and despite being aware of diabetes, many fail to adopt healthy habits to prevent it. Here is what Doctor shared with us:
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to understand how much IT employees are aware of type 2 diabetes, one’s health habits, and barriers to a healthy lifestyle. It was conducted with the aim of finding out whether good awareness actually leads to good prevention.
Key details
65% of employees were well aware of diabetes.
45% reported practicing healthy habits.
68% said they exercise regularly and 76% said they eat a high-fiber diet, but they had difficulty sticking to it.
33% of respondents cited lack of time as the main obstacle, while 23% cited fatigue after work and work-related stress.
Awareness and good habits were high among senior employees.
What does this mean?
This study shows that while IT professionals understand the risk of diabetes, long working hours, stress, and excessive computer use prevent them from adopting healthy habits. Sedentary work and irregular sleep patterns are also contributing to their risk of developing diabetes at a young age.
Reminders to stand, drink water, or do a little exercise during work hours can make a big difference. Prevention starts with the minutes you give yourself. The study team also recommends workplace-based wellness programs, including medical screenings, nutrition awareness, and exercise breaks during work.
It also said that companies can play a key role in preventing diabetes among young tech professionals by improving awareness and creating a healthy environment.
Tips for a healthy lifestyle after work
Self-defense methods for office workers, IT employees, and those who work in a sedentary position.
Take a 10-minute walk right after turning off the computer. This helps digest your dinner and lowers your blood sugar levels.
Avoid ordering food online after work – it’s much better to cook simple meals at home.
Avoid drinking beverages like coffee after 6 pm for restful sleep.
Stretch your body before sitting on the sofa – even light stretches can improve blood flow.
Instead of watching TV for too long, engage in outdoor games with your family.
Don’t work after dinner. Don’t do office work at home. Make it a habit to water plants, take your pets for a walk, or do 15 minutes of yoga. Eat dinner early. It is best to eat 2 hours before bedtime.
Drink plenty of water. Instead of bottled soft drinks, drink water with lemon.
Make sleep a priority. Get at least 7 to 8 hours.
Rest after work determines your energy for the next day. Therefore, the research team suggests that giving your body a break after returning from the office will have good results, without doing too much work.