Diabetes

The Metabolism of the Body

Our food mainly comprises of carbohydrates, fats and proteins as sources of health and vigour.

Fats are important for the integrity of the cells, insulation, penetration and as a source of energy when blood or tissue glucose levels are low.

Proteins are responsible for building the body structure and act as a source of energy when blood or tissue glucose levels are low.

Carbohydrates in the food are digested and converted into glucose, fructose and used mainly as the fuel of choice when blood and tissue stores are high. The brain however, uses nothing but glucose as its energy fuel.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting every system and every part of the body due to the high glucose (sugar) level in the blood. Persons with diabetes have excess sugar in blood because of body's inability to take up and utilize this glucose, leaving a large amount of unutilized glucose and facts in the blood.
After certain limits this unused glucose starts appearing in the urine, producing sweet urine, which our Indian traditional system like ayurveda called "MADHU MEHA".

The key that unlocks the glucose gate of our cells to allow the glucose present in the blood to enter is insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced & secreted by beta cells of Islets of langerhans of pancreas gland, an organ located close to stomach. Types of Diabetes Generally divided into two categories, type-I, called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus {IDDM} or juvenile diabetes mellitus occurs before 40 years of age, mostly in children or young adults,

where family history may not present, and type-2, called non-insulin Dependent diabetes mellitus {NIDDM} or maturity onset diabetes mellitus, where family history is mostly common and occurs mostly after 50 years of age.

What are the Common Symptoms?

The type-l
diabetic symptoms include: irritability, frequent urination, abnormal thirst, nausea or vomiting, weakness, fatigue and unusual hunger, dizziness, sweating, confusion palpitation, tingling of libs and if untreated, the patient may experience double vision, trembling, disorientation, performs strange actions and may eventually lose consciousness.

The type-2
diabetic {maturity-onset diabetes}, often have family history of diabetes and is characterized by blurred vision, itching, unusual thirst, inordinate appetite, dry red tongue, indigestion, mental depression, progressive weakness, constipation, drowsiness, obesity, fatigue, skin infections, slow wound healing, and tingling or numbness in the feet. (Insulin dependent also)

How does diabetes occurs?

The tendency for getting diabetes is controlled by a genetic basis i.e. your family history, and influenced by environmental factors. You may not be able to change the genetic factors after birth.

But to avoid diabetes, the following environmental factors can be controlled to a great extent like: overweight, overnutrition, refined food, lack of physical activity, emotional and other stress, repeated pregnancies, infections, drugs and toxins causing diabetes.

What happens in diabetes?

When glucose does not enter into body cells, it accumulates in the blood. After it reaches a certain limit, it starts appearing in the urine. Normal urine does not contain glucose. When glucose appears in the urine, it draws out more water with it hence there is excessive urination.

Because of excess urination and loss of water there is excessive thirst. Although there is excess glucose in the blood, there isn't enough in the cells {because insulin is lacking}. The cells are "starved" of glucose.

This causes an increase in appetite and although a diabetic eats more, the cells never seem to get enough glucose. In a desperate effort to get energy, the "starved" cells begin using up body fat and protein. This causes loss of weight and tiredness.

Who Can Become A Diabetic?

The stronger the family history the grater is the tendency of getting diabetes. Hereditary is of course the most important factor and it is even believed that with out the hereditary tendency, diabetes will not occur inspite of severe stress or other potential factors.

Your Risk chance

If both parents are diabetics 99%, if one parent is a diabetic and other from a family with a history of diabetes 88%, if only one parent is a diabetic 65%, if there is no history of diabetes in the family 12%

What are the complications of diabetes?

Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, heart, eyes, kidney, nerves, which may even lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, gangrene, high blood pressure, impotence, even at molecular changes at gene level.

It increases your chances of getting various infections, decreases rate of wound healing. Males with diabetes have 2-4 times and females have 3-5 times higher risk of heart diseases.

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia means abnormal lowering of blood sugar below the acceptable range which normally leads to various symptoms. Hypoglycemia may also occur without any warning signals, or even during sleep it leads to depression, fatal level also.

How to avoid hypoglycemia?

Mild hypoglycemia is self limiting and is corrected by body's natural mechanism, whereas, severe if not treated properly may result in coma. A proper care about diet, exercise and medication can help to avoid hypoglycemia.

Always carry something sweet and eat it the moment you observe the symptoms. Keep your relatives informed about hypoglycemia. Always carry your identity card showing that you are a diabetic. Contact your doctor immediately if patient has severe hypoglycemia.

Laboratory investigation in diabetes

Fasting and postprandial blood sugar test (or) RBS HBA1C

{ Glycosylated hemoglobin}

Creatinine

Lipid profile(or) total cholesterol & triglycerides & complete urine test

Important 1% reduction in HBA1C levels after 3 months of treatment, resulted into 21% reduction in risk chances of diabetes death percentage level 37% reduction in eye and kidney damages, legs & nerves 14% reduction in cardiac problems.

Diet ::
General dietary guidelines for diabetic diet.

Avoid ::
Bitter guard, Mango, Pineapple, Dates, Grapes, Spicy food, Ghee, Cream, Butter, Cheese, Pickle, Sugar, Honey, Jaggery, Sweets, Egg yolk, Mutton, Red meat, Chicken, Banana, Custard Apple {sitafal}, Sweet Melon

Restrict ::
Coconut, Groundnut, Dry fruits, Bread, Lean portion of Fish / Chicken can eaten only once a week {not fried}. Roti / Chapatti should be dry. No parathas. Rice Should be eaten in a restricted amount. Use only 3 to 4 tsp. of oil per Day.

Exercise

Regular, controlled exercise helps to increase glucose utilization. It helps attain ideal weight by burning calories of the food you take. It tones up the body and improves circulation. It helps build stamina and provides a sense of well-being.

What are precautions to be taken while exercising?

Being a diabetic, you have to take precautions while exercising. Initiate the exercise program gently and build it up gradually under your doctor's guidance. Be particular about the intensity, timing and type of exercise.

Keep sugar or some other food which can rapidly provide glucose. This is to treet low blood sugar level {hypoglycemia} if it were to occur during or following exercise. Do not exercise if your blood sugar values are high and your diabetes is not under control.