World Health Day 2016: Beat Diabetes

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone. The food you eat is converted into energy (also called sugar or glucose). This energy is to be carried to the cells for utilization. Insulin which is released by Pancreas helps this transport of energy from blood to the cells. If you produce little or no insulin, or are insulin resistant, too much sugar remains in your blood as it does not reach the cells for utilization. Hence the Blood Sugar levels are higher than normal for individuals with diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also your brain's main source of fuel.

If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the causes may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems.

Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes — when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes — and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.

Three types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), accounts for 5 to 10 out of 100 people who have diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production from the body. Without insulin, cells cannot absorb sugar (glucose), which they need to produce energy.
• Type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset or non–insulin-dependent diabetes) can develop at any age. It most commonly becomes apparent during adulthood. But type 2 diabetes in children is rising. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the vast majority of people who have diabetes—90 to 95 out of 100 people. In type 2 diabetes, the body isn't able to use insulin the right way. This is called insulin resistance. As type 2 diabetes gets worse, the pancreas may make less and less insulin. This is called insulin deficiency.

• Gestational diabetes: This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.

Symptoms:

Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.

Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there's not enough available insulin)
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections

Although type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, it typically appears during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age, though it's more common in people older than 40.

Diet

Following diet helps in maintaining overall health of a person which directly helps in regulating the diabetic condition. However, kindly consult your dietician before following any particular diet regime.

·         Limiting foods that are high in sugar

·         Eating smaller portions, spread out over the day

·         Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat

·         Eating a variety of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables every day

·         Eating less fat

·         Limiting your use of alcohol

·         Using less salt

Exercise

A regular exercise regime helps maintain a healthy body and soul. Please ask your physician before starting any specific exercise routine.

·     Start slowly with walking. If you are out of shape, walk for 5 - 10 minutes.

·    Try to set a goal of fast walking. You should do this for 30 - 45 minutes at least 5 days a week. Do more if you can. Swimming or exercise classes are also good.

·    If you use insulin, ask your doctor when you should eat before you exercise. Also find out how to adjust your dose when you exercise.

·     Your health care provider should make sure your exercise program is safe for you.

·     Call your doctor if you feel faint, have chest pain, or feel short of breath when you exercise.