Diabetes: Stop the Silent Killer

Are you suffering from DIABETES, then read this article to know more about diabetes and how to treat it.

What is diabetes: Diabetes occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes higher than normal. There are two main types of diabetes. These are called type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes type1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Type1 Diabetes: When you are affected with Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes, is often diagnosed in children or teens. however, it can also occur in adults.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the cells are unable to use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is commonly called “adult-onset diabetes” since it is diagnosed later in life, generally after the age of 45. It accounts for 90–95 per cent of people with diabetes.

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease, you’re certainly not alone. It is estimated that over 420 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes. Unfortunately, the number of people with diabetes is increasing in every country, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Current data suggests that over 8% of adults worldwide have diabetes type1

Diabetes is the fastest growing long term disease that affects millions of people worldwide. One in six people with diabetes in the world is from India. The numbers place the country among the top 10 countries for people with diabetes, coming in at number two with an estimated 77 million diabetics. China leads the list with over 116 million diabetics.

A number of common themes can be found with regard to diabetes and rising prevalence rates. The reasons for the escalation in diabetes in Indians are i) increased insulin resistance, ii) stronger genetic factors and iii) environmental factors particularly associated with urbanization.

what happens in diabetes: Many of the foods and beverages that you consume contain glucose, which your body processes to make energy. Your pancreas produces a hormone called insulin to help the glucose in your blood enter your muscles, fat, and liver to provide energy.

When the body doesn’t use insulin properly, your pancreas initially makes more insulin to overcome this resistance. But when the pancreas can no longer keep up with the demand, your blood glucose rises too high and hyperglycemia results. Type 2 diabetes leads to hyperglycemia.

symptoms of diabetes:

• Extreme thirst(polydipsia)
• Frequent urination(polyuria)
• Blurry vision
• Extreme hunger(hyperphagia)
• Increased tiredness or fatigue
• Unusual weight loss

How can I find out if I have diabetes?

• The most common test is a fasting blood glucose test. After not eating for at least eight hours, usually, overnight, your doctor will take a blood sample. The normal, non-diabetic range for fasting blood glucose is 70 to 110 mg/dl. If your level is 126 mg/dl or greater, you may have diabetes.

another test is the Glycated Hemoglobin (A1C) Test(HbA1C) While an A1C of 5.7 or below is normal, anything between 5.7 and 6.4 per cent signals prediabetes and a reading of 6.5 per cent or higher on two different tests suggests you have diabetes.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes include:

• Weight. Being overweight or obese is the main risk.
• Fat distribution. Storing fat mainly in your abdomen — rather than your hips and thighs — indicates a greater risk. Your risk of type 2 diabetes rises if you’re a man with a waist circumference above 40 inches or a woman with a measurement above 35 inches
• Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
• Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
• Race and ethnicity. Although it’s unclear why, people of certain races and ethnicities — including Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian people, and Pacific Islanders — are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people are.
• Blood lipid levels. Increased risk is associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the “good” cholesterol — and high levels of triglycerides.
• Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45.
• Prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Left untreated, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
• Pregnancy-related risks. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases if you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant or if you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms).
• Polycystic ovary syndrome. Having polycystic ovary syndrome — a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity — increases the risk of diabetes
• Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck. This condition often indicates insulin resistance.

Complications

Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually.

Cardiovascular disease Nerve damage (neuropathy).Kidney damage (nephropathy).Eye damage (retinopathy).Foot damage.Skin conditions like bacterial and fungal infections.Alzheimer’s disease.Depression.

. Prevalence has been rising more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

• Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
• But diabetes is a disease that can be managed by following certain lifestyle changes.

Diabetes is a serious disease. Following your diabetes treatment plan takes round-the-clock commitment. Careful management of diabetes can reduce your risk of serious even life-threatening — complications.

Lifestyle changes to follow:

• Make a commitment to managing your diabetes. Learn all you can about diabetes. Establish a relationship with a diabetes educator, and ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.
• Choose healthy foods and maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, losing just 5% of your body weight can make a difference in your blood sugar control if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet is one with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and legumes, with a limited amount of saturated fat.
• Make physical activity part of your daily routine. Regular exercise can help prevent prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and it can help those who already have diabetes to maintain better blood sugar control. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercises — such as brisk walking — most days of the week is recommended. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week.
• It’s also a good idea to spend less time sitting still. Try to get up and move around for a few minutes at least every 30 minutes or so when you’re awake.

points to remember:

Schedule a yearly physical and regular eye exams

Keep your vaccinations up to date

Pay attention to your feet

Follow balanced diet

stay active, move around and exercise.

Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control

Take care of your teeth

If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your doctor to help you quit

If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly

Take stress seriously.