Diabetes
how common it is ?
1 out of every 10 adults in India has Diabetes and one in every third household has diabetic patients
SYMPTOMS of diabetes
Diabetes has become a very common issue these days which may affect people regardless of their age. It develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or any at all, or when your body isn’t responding to the effects of insulin properly.
Dry Mouth
You might very often feel that your mouth is dry and you need to drink water.
Increased Thirst
You might get the feeling to drink more water than usual to satisfy your thirst.
Numbness
Your feet will sometimes start tingling or it may get numb for sometime.
Blurry Vision
Your vision or sight may be blurry due to diabetes.
Healing Cuts
Incase you get any cuts in your body, it will take more time than general to be healed.
infections
You may got a lot of frequent infections like gum infections or maybe vaginal infections if you are a woman.
Weight Loss
You might see that you are losing weight without doing anything at all.
Asymptomatic diabetes
You may have a high blood sugar levels but no noticeable symptoms
Did you know ?
There are mainly three types of diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and Type 1 Diabetes & Other types of Diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes mainly affects the adults but children can be also prone to it. It is a condition in which your own body cells do not respond to the insulin. It can also occur when your body is not making enough insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes mainly affects the children and adults of young age but it may affect anyone of any age. In this type, our own immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells located in the pancreas of our body.
others
- Gestational diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Monogenic Diabetes
- Neonatal diabetes
- Type 3c diabetes
- Secondary Diabetes
who should be tested for diabetes ?
Individuals with Diabetes Symptoms
- Frequent urination (Polyuria)
- Excessive thirst (Polydipsia)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing wounds
- Tingling or numbness in extremities
genetic, lifestyle, or environmental factors
- Family Diabetes History
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Age 45 and older
- Gestational diabetes history
- Hypertension and high cholesterol
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Pregnant Women
- Testing for gestational diabetes is recommended for:
- Pregnant women between 24–28 weeks of gestation
- Women with a history of gestational diabetes
- Those with high BMI or significant weight gain during pregnancy.
Children and Adolescents
- Overweight children (BMI >85th percentile)
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- unexplained fatigue.
Individuals with Prediabetes
- Higher-than-normal blood sugar levels
Other Health Conditions
- Heart disease or stroke survivors
- Kidney disease patients
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
How is Diabetes Treated?
Early aggressive treatment with an emphases on lifestyle measures can help reduce the risk of long term health complications.
Type 2 Diabetes
- Lifestyle Changes: Diet and exercise are the first steps to managing Type 2 diabetes. A balanced diet rich in fiber and low in sugar helps control blood sugar. Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity.
- Oral Medications: Medications like Metformin help reduce blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity or reducing glucose production in the liver.
- Insulin Therapy: In advanced stages, or when medications are insufficient, insulin therapy may be needed.
- Monitoring Blood Sugar: Regular blood sugar testing helps track how well the treatment is working.
Type 1 Diabetes
- Insulin Therapy: As the body cannot produce insulin, patients need daily insulin injections or an insulin pump.
- Blood Sugar Monitoring: Frequent checking of blood glucose levels using a glucometer or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is crucial.
- Diet and Exercise: A healthy diet low in refined carbohydrates, combined with regular physical activity, helps maintain stable blood sugar levels.
- Carbohydrate Counting: This helps to match insulin doses with the amount of carbohydrates consumed.