Healthy lifestyle changes play a role in suppressing diabetes genes

The Chairman of the Indonesian Obesity Study Association (Hisobi), Prof. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, has stated that implementing lifestyle modification is important in suppressing diabetes genes.

“Lifestyle modification always accompanies the management of all diabetes medications at any stage. Because this lifestyle modification will provide education to people who do not yet have diabetes,” Prof Dante said during a media gathering for the Anugerah Pharmindo Lestari (APL) event in Jakarta on Saturday.

Prof Dante highlighted that diabetes cases continue to rise over time. This is because the spider web of genetic of diabetes is becoming increasingly dense.

“So the curve is not linear, but exponential. The higher the carrier factor carried by our parents as a diabetes gene, the higher the chance of passing it on to their children,” he said.

Despite carrying the diabetes gene, Dante gave an example of individuals who only develop the disease at the age of 70 or 80 because they have implemented a good lifestyle, keeping their blood sugar under control.

According to him, by implementing lifestyle modifications such as running regularly, exercising routinely, and maintaining an ideal body weight, any risk factors a person may have will decrease over time.

“Therefore, lifestyle modification is very necessary and must be implemented across all lines, all ages, and all groups. The diabetes gene is becoming increasingly dense, making people more susceptible to diabetes, especially those who are obese,” he said.

“Because of this, obesity becomes an important factor. We will either change the diagnosis of diabetes, treat the obesity, or change the diagnosis of diabetes from now on, depending on the choice,” he stated.