World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14th of every year with the hope of spreading awareness about this disease which, if left untreated, invariably proves fatal.

Diabetes is a very common disease in India. We are a population at a very high risk for Diabetes!
Diabetes mellitus is primarily a condition where the blood sugar level is high. This occurs mainly due to insufficient/defective insulin or when the body tissues are resistant to the insulin.

Types of Diabetes mellitus:

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: This is due to insulin deficiency. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune reaction where the white blood cells (policemen of our body) mistake a friend for a foe. i.e., The WBCs think that the beta cells are foreign bodies (like the bacteria) that have intruded our body. So the WBCs set out to destroy these cells thereby causing insulin deficiency.
Type 1 diabetes commonly occurs in children, hence it was also known as "Juvenile diabetes". There's another name, Insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This disease is mostly inherited and is treated with insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Also called Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). This type of DM is characterised by insulin resistance which may/may not be associated with insulin deficiency. A number of conditions lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus. The major reasons being lifestyle, diet and stress. This condition is also transmitted via genes.

Are you at risk for Type 2 Diabetes?

• Do you skip your work-out schedule to get extra sleep?
• Does your job put you under a lot of stress?
• Do you have to finish the arduous task of getting rid of the (loads and loads of) left over diwali sweets by eating them on your own?
• Do you smoke?
• Are you a hypertensive?
• Are you obese?
• Does the majority of your diet contain carbs and fats (less proteins)?
• Do you have a family history of Diabetes?

If your answer is "Yes" to any of these questions, yes sir/ma'm, you are at risk for diabetes!The blood sugar levels are brought under control by insulin and tons of other modern drugs which are really effective.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): This type of Diabetes Mellitus occurs exclusively during pregnancy in some women and disappears after delivery. GDM indicates a high risk pregnancy and these women require constant medical care. GDM is one important cause of sudden fetal death!
GDM affects the fetus in more than one ways. It causes macrosomia (big baby) which can cause difficulty during normal vaginal delivery. GDM also causes respiratory distress in the baby (which is a terrifying condition) among various other complications.
Oral hypoglycaemics (drugs that help to bring down the blood sugar levels) are contraindicated during pregnancy and insulin is the only drug to be given to treat GDM. With proper drug administration and frequent antenatal check-ups GDM can be brought well under control.


Symptoms:

The main symptoms of diabetes mellitus are frequent urination (polyuria), increased thirst (polydypsia) and increased hunger (polyphagia).

Complications:
The increased level of sugar in the blood is such a nuisance! If left as such for long, they may cause one or more of these:

• Cardiovascular problems: Myocardial ischemia (Heart attack)
• Diabetic retinopathy: Usually, the light entering the eye falls on the retina from where the light is carried as neurological signals to the brain by the optic nerve. In prolonged diabetes, the retina may be damaged, leading to blindness. LASER photocoagulation is used to treat retinopathy
• Diabetic nephropathy: The increased sugar levels may damage the kidney and this requires dialysis treatment.
• Diabetic neuropathy: The nerves get damages, leading to numbness or tingling sensation. Now, when this occurs in the legs, due to numbness, the patient is unaware when his/her foot is being injured. Later diabetic foot ulcers occur.
• Any open wound takes a really long time to heal.
  
• Diabetics are prone to infection, especially those patients with open wounds. The foot ulcers are difficult to treat. This may even require amputation.

Prevention:

Prevention of diabetes mellitus involves proper screening techniques and major lifestyle modifications.

• Periodic blood glucose level estimation
• If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, allot time for exercise.
  
• Monitor your BMI
• Watch your diet. Include food rich in fibre.
• Quit smoking. Much better, don't even start smoking.
• Hypertensive patients, keep your blood pressure under control.
• Relax yourself. Music or Yoga helps.

This post is not to scare you in any way. The main aim was to let you know that Diabetes isn't that deadly afterall. Adequate and timely management allows diabetic patients to lead a normal life! It's you who has to take care of your body and stay healthy. Now you can stop being a couch potato and train your way to fitness!