| Diabetes |
| FACTS: |
| • |
There are more than 57.2 million people
with diabetes in India and this increases every year |
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Every fifth diabetes patient in the world is an Indian
(observes Dr. Ramesh Goyal, MD, DM Endocrinology &
Diabetology, Apollo Hospitals: 13 Nov 2005 - TIMES NEWS
NETWORK |
| • |
Diabetes is the biggest cause of kidney failure, the
leading cause of blindness in adults of working age and
one of the biggest causes of limb amputation |
| • |
Diabetes significantly increases the risk of coronary
heart disease and stroke disease deaths are in people
over retirement age |
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WHO statistics assert that India has the highest number
of diabetics in the world. |
|
1. What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store
and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called
glucose. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta,
rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose,
your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your
body called the pancreas. |
 |
In a person with
diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin or the insulin
doesn't work the way it should. Therefore, glucose cannot
get into your cells - it stays in your blood stream. Your
blood glucose level then gets too high, causing you to
have diabetes. |
|
2. What are the different types of diabetes?
Broadly there are three types of diabetes.
a. |
Type 1 diabetes: Earlier
it was also called "Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
(IDDM)" or "Juvenile-onset Diabetes". In
type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. Type
1 diabetes usually starts in children or young adults.
People with type 1 diabetes need to get insulin through
a shot or pump and recently an inhaler. |
b. |
Type 2 diabetes: It was previous called
"Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)"
or "Adult-onset Diabetes". In type 2 diabetes
the pancreas makes some insulin, which is not able to
be used by the body very well. Some people with type 2
diabetes takes shots or pills and some can manage their
diabetes by following few tips: staying at a healthy weight,
eating healthy, and getting regular physical activity. |
|
Type 2 diabetes usually is diagnosed in adults, but
unfortunately, it is becoming more common in children
and young adults who are overweight and inactive. |
c. |
Gestational diabetes: This is a type
of diabetes is peculiar only to pregnant women. Your body
uses glucose for energy. But too much glucose in your
blood can be harmful. When you are pregnant, too much
glucose is not good for your baby. If not treated, it
can cause problems for mothers and babies. Gestational
diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but usually
disappears when a pregnancy is over. |
|
3. What are the most common symptoms of
diabetes?
People with diabetes might have some or none of the symptoms
as following: |
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Frequent urination |
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Excessive thirst |
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Unexplained weight loss |
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Extreme hunger |
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Sudden vision changes |
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Tingling or numbness in hands or feet |
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Feeling very tired |
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Very dry skin |
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Sores that are slow to heal |
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More infections than usual. |
|
In Type 1 diabetes, nausea, vomiting or stomach
pains may accompany some of the above symptoms. |
4. What are the risk factors associated
with diabetes?
Risk factors can be based on identification of high risk patients. |
| • |
Age - the risk of diabetes increases with
age. |
| • |
Overweight-Defined as a body mass index (BMI) |
• |
In addition to age and weight,
other factors increase the risk for diabetes: |
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High Blood pressure |
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Abnormal level of cholesterol. |
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Family History-Parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. |
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History of gestational diabetes- this is for women
who had diabetes during pregnancy |
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Inactive lifestyle-exercises less than three times
a week. |
|
| 5. What are some of the problems associated
with diabetes? |
|
Diabetes can cause serious health complications:
blindness, kidney disease, amputations, heart disease, and stroke. |
Heart attack and stroke are the number one killers
of people with diabetes. And, people with diabetes hardly are
aware of the fact that that he or she is at risk for heart disease
or stroke. |
Having diabetes can lead to a heart attack or
stroke - but remember, it doesn't have to. You can live longer
for your family by taking care of your heart and your diabetes.
It means controlling your blood sugar (glucose), as well as
your blood pressure and cholesterol too. |
| 6. What are the ways to prevent and control
diabetes? |
a. |
30 minutes of physical activity at least
4 days in a week. Physical activity helps you stay at
a healthy weight, which helps control your diabetes. |
b. |
Eat Healthy - fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low
fat, less salt etc. |
c. |
Take medicines the way your doctor tells you. |
d. |
Control Blood Pressure |
e. |
Control your Blood Sugar |
f. |
Do not hesitate to talk to your family and friends
for helping you to take care of your heart and your diabetes. |
g. |
For more information about ways to take care of your
heart and your diabetes, talk to a health care provider. |
|
7. What is the treatment available for diabetes?
There is no cure for diabetes; however the treatment for diabetes is available. Treatment for diabetes varies based on a number of factors, including weight, age and any complications you may encounter. |
| Treatment for Type I diabetes: |
• |
Treatment of Type I diabetes involves the daily injection of insulin |
• |
Eating a consistent, healthy diet appropriate to one’s size and weight is essential in controlling blood sugar level. |
|
| Treatment for Type II diabetes: |
• |
People with Type II diabetes, requires taking oral medication. |
• |
People with type 2 diabetes also may require insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels. |
• |
Even if somebody is on medication, it is still important to eat a healthy diet, lose weight if overweight, and engage in moderate physical activity as often as possible. |
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Talk to your doctor to take good care of yourself. Taking care of your diabetes can help prevent serious problems in your eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth, and blood vessels. |
| KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER: |
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Diabetes is an important cause of disability and increases the risk of coronary heart disease and other health problems |
• |
Diabetes can occur at any stage. |
• |
There are an increasing number of children developing type 2 diabetes – this is related to the increase in obesity in children which is accompanied by decreased physical activity. |
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| Resources: |
World Health Organisation
US Department of Health and Human Service
American Diabetes Association |
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