"Treaties Of Diabetes"

Commonly known as "Diabetes mellitus", a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar.

India is said to be diabetic capital of the world. We have access to gyms, good food and enough knowledge and awareness still many of us are suffering from diabetes. With diabetes, our body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it make, thus it is divided into few types :

Type 1 diabetes (T1D):  Is an auto-immune disease. the immune system attacks and destroy insulin producing ß-cells in the pancreas, thus body doesn't produce insulin.

Gene play a role in some people, about 10% of all diabetes cases are type-1.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D): When our body becomes resistant to insulin and sugar builds up in our body. Stems from a combination of genetic and lifestyle factor. Being overweight or obese increase the risk too. Carrying extra weight, especially in our belly, makes cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on our blood sugar.

Prediabetes: When our blood sugar is higher than normal, but its not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: It is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin blocking hormone produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

Risk Factor:

Type 1: Mostly effect child, teenagers or early adulthood.

Type 2: If we are overweight, age 45 or older.

            - A parent or sibling with this condition.

            - High Bp, high cholesterol or high TAG.

Symptoms:

• Increased blood sugar level

• Frequent urination

• Excess thirst and hunger

• Unexplained weight loss

• Blurred vision

• Extreme fatigue and irritability

• Slowed healing of cuts or bruises

• Itchy skins

• Swollen or red gums

Diabetes symptoms can be so mild that they are hard to spot at first, and if blood sugar is left untreated it may damage our nerves, eyes, kidneys and other organs.

Complication:

Diabetes is a dietary and a lifestyle disease. The no.1 cause of high uncontrolled chronic stress and also leads to:

• Heart disease, heart attack and stroke

• Nephropathy, retinopathy & vision loss

• Hearing loss

• Depression, dementia

In gestational diabetes, it affects baby and may cause-

• Premature birth

• Increase risk T2D later in life

• Decrease blood sugar

• Jaundice and still birth.

  
  

Management:

Type 1 Diabetes: There is no cure but can be managed with insulin.

Insulin

• It replaces the hormone our body isn't able to produce, and it moves sugar from the blood to the cell to be stored or used for energy.

• Insulins are differentiated by how long their effects last, thus their are 4-types that are most commonly used.

• Rapid acting insulin: Starts within 15min and affect lasts for 3-4 hours

• Short acting insulin: Starts within 30min and affect lasts for 6-8hours

• Intermediate acting insulin: Starts within 1-2hour and lasts for 12-18hour

• Long lasting insulin: Starts within few hours after injection & lasts for 24hours longer.
  

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: It can be managed with non-insulin medications, insulin, dietary changes and exercises. if this diabetes is not controlled the patient will be at higher risk of developing complications.

Gestational diabetes: Blood sugar level need to be monitored several times a day during pregnancy. If its high, dietary changes and exercise may or may not be enough to bring it down. Such women need insulin to lower their blood sugar. 

Insulin is safe for growing baby

Diabetes and diet:

Blood sugar rises/falls based on the type of food we eat.

• Eating a healthy, well balanced and nutritious diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seed and lentils.

• Plant based diet has a positive impact on diabetes and it also reduces inflammations.

• Food with low glycemic index also have a better impact on lowering blood sugar levels.

• Super food like organic apple cedar vinegar, turmeric, garlic, aloe Vera, curry leaves and cinnamon also helps in diabetes.

• For better absorption of nutrients, improve blood circulation and for detoxification optimum water of minimum 2-3L in a day should be consumed. Make water alkaline by adding lime, cucumber or cinnamon

• Cut down on sugar and white foods, ensure that you eat short meals at regular interval.

• Starchy or sugary foods make blood sugar level rise rapidly.

• Need to limit the amount of carbohydrates we eat each day.

• In some cases, only changing our diet may be enough to control the diabetes.

14th November - "World Diabetes Day" 

Note: A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus although it has a similar name, it has a different condition in which our kidney removes too much fluid from body.