Some valuable information need to know about Diabetes

India with 63 million diabetics, is the world’s diabetes capital but doesn’t manufacture any of the devices that people with the disease require, like glucometers, which measures blood sugar levels, insulin pens, or pumps. This makes the cost of living of person with diabetes at least 50% higher than it should be, experts say. According to a recent study, by 2030 diabetes mellitus may afflict up to 101.2 million individuals in India. While diabetes has attained pandemic proportions, awareness of the disease remains woefully low. However, a few simple lifestyle changes are all it takes to effectively deal with diabetes and the very first step is getting to know the disease.

Basics of Diabetes :

This is a disease that prevents one’s body from efficiently using the energy(glucose) in the food consumed. Without insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, sugar in the bloodstream cannot enter the body’s cell for use as energy causing blood sugar levels to rise. Type-1 diabetes results from the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin, while Type-2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance, where the pancreas makes insulin, but the body’s cells do not respond to it. In Pre-diabetes blood glucose levels are too high to be considered normal but not high enough to be labeled as diabetes.

Identify the Signs :

The symptoms of Type-2 diabetes are mild and can be easily ignored. Symptoms include prolonged feelings of thirst, excessive urination, blurry vision, and irritable disposition, tingling or numbness in hands or feet and wounds that won’t heal. Your medical history, genes, habits, and lifestyle may predispose one to diabetes, but an early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

                                                

The diabetic patient diet : 

Dropping just 7-10% of one’s weight can cut the risk of Type-2 diabetes in half. Avoid processed carbs, sugary drinks, trans and saturated fats, and red and processed meats. A nutritionist can help you draw up a customized diet plan.

What to do :

Moving muscles use insulin. Thirty minutes of brisk walking a day will cut the risk by almost a third. Carry a small fruit or a fruit drink in case the blood sugar gets too low during exercise. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. Consult a doctor, before beginning any exercise regime.

Medication on time and Monitoring :

If one has been diagnosed with either diabetes or pre-diabetes, taking the medication on time plays a major role in staying healthy. Regular visits to the doctor and periodic tests may be required to monitor blood sugar levels.

Get ahead of diabetes by getting yourself and your loved ones tested for the disease. Tests suggest by the doctor including FBS, PPBS, Total cholesterol, HDL, Serum Creatinine, Urine routine, Urine microalbumin, Urine microalbumin – Creatinine ratio, HbAlc, and a consultation with an endocrinologist and nutritionist. Many hospitals in India provides comprehensive diabetes care with a team including highly qualified endocrinologists, nutritionists, trained diabetes counselors, certified insulin pump therapists, and podiatrists all under one roof. 

Initiatives that help the poor people :

According to the stats, nearly 61% of the poor people, aged between 24 and 70 used their personal savings for the treatment of the disorder and nearly 23% depended on loans. So, we have to manufacture the mostly used diabetes machine locally, which will brought down the cost by half. They can also afford treatment if local devices found in the market largely.

N.B. : Some vital information of this article is written with the help of a Doctor. I am thankful to him for showing his kindness to us.