DIABETES
What is diabetes ?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body produces too little or ineffective insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to change food into the energy essential for life.
When food is digested, it breaks down into a sugar called glucose, which is absorbed into the blood.
In normal person, insulin helps the blood glucose to enter the body cells, to be used for energy.
In a diabetic person with too little or ineffective insulin, the glucose cannot enter the body cells. It builds up in the blood, giving rise to a high blood glucose level which is the main sign of untreated or uncontrolled diabetes.
Diabetes in India.
About 5% of adult Indians aged 18 years and above have diabetes, and the rate is increasing. This is linked to changes in lifestyle, such as a high-fat diet, lack of exercise, overweight and stress.
Some people have certain factors that increase their risk of diabetes. This risk factors are :
Overweight : Diabetes is more common in people who are overweight.
Family history of diabetes :
The risk of a person getting diabetes is increased if one parent is diabetic, and even higher if are diabetic.Age :
In India, diabetes commonly affects those over 40 years old.Ethnic group :
Diabetes is more common in Indians (9%) than in Malayasia (8%) or Chinese(4%).Gender :
Men are more likely to get diabetes (6% of men as compared to 4% of women)Diabetes can also sometimes develop during pregnancy, or it can become worse in a diabetic woman during pregnancy.
There are two main types of diabetes.
Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes
This type of diabetes usually develops in young persons. The insulin-producing cells in the body are destroyed, and the body produces practically no insulin.
Type I diabetes can only be controlled with insulin replacement in the form of daily insulin injections, as well as proper diet and exercise.
The warning symptoms of type I diabetes include :
Nausea and vomiting
Extreme thirst with frequent urination
Extreme hunger with rapid weight loss
Tiredness and irritability
These symptoms usually occur suddenly. Prompt treatment is necessary. So see a doctor immediately.
Type II (non-insulin-dependent)
This type of diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 40 years who are overweight. It is the most common type of diabetes in India. Insulin is produced by the body, but it may be decreased in amount or ineffective.
Type II diabetes can often be controlled with just proper diet and exercise. Sometimes, tablets are needed to stimulate production of more insulin, or to improve the action of ineffective insulin. In advanced cases, daily insulin injections are needed.
Persons with type II diabetes often have no warning symptoms, and only discover they have the disease when they have a routine blood test, or when they have a routine blood test, or when they develop complications.
Fungal infection and itching of the genital area
Thirst with frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss
Blurred vision or a change in vision
Numbness or tingling of hands or feet
Slow healing of wounds
Tiredness and irritability
These symptoms usually occur gradually. See your doctor as soon as possible, As early treatment improves the chances of preventing delaying complications.
Complications of diabetes
Untreated or uncontrolled diabetes leads to serious complications.
Diabetics develop a loss of feeling in the hands and feet and often injure themselves without realising it. These wounds are slow to heal and become infected easily.
A presently high blood glucose level also damages the small blood vessels in the body, particularly the eyes, kidneys and nerves. Blood flow to the various organs is reduced or even cut off, causing damage.
Common complications of diabetes are :
Coma (loss of consciousness)
Blindness
High blood pressure
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Stroke
Gangrene
(decay of the limbs),
which may require………
Amputation
Is there a cure ?
There is no cure for diabetes at present. But the disease can be controlled with lifelong treatment.
Good control of the blood glucose level will help prevent or delay the complications of diabetes, and enable a diabetic person to live a normal life.
Prevention
Presently, it is not possible to prevent type I diabetes. However, type II diabetes, which is often associated with overweight, may be prevented by :
Keeping to the desirable body weight for your height
Excess fat prevents insulin from working properly.
Eating a balance diet
Take the correct number of servings from each of the 3 basic food groups for your age and level of activity. Avoid too much sugar, salt, fat and high-cholesterol food.
Exercising regularly
This uses up blood glucose and body fat, improves blood circulation and strengthens the heart.