Diabetes is a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood (high blood glucose). It is a metabolic disorder in which various reactions in the cells are affected due to abnormal production of one or more hormone.
Types - There are five types of diabetes:
Type 1 - Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) - Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, though it often appears during childhood or adolescence. Here the body stops making insulin.
Type 2 - Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus(NIDDM) - Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age, though it's more common in people older than 40 years. It is caused due to insulin resistance for which obesity is one of the major cause.
Type 3 - Malnutrition Related Diabetes Mellitus(MRDM) - Type 3 diabetes is common in the age group 15-30 years where people look lean and malnourished.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) - This type of diabetes is also called prediabetes where the blood sugar level is higher than required but not high enough to diagnose as type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes - This diabetes is common during pregnancy and normally gets fine after delivery.
Signs and Symptoms - Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Extreme hunger
Unexplained weight loss(Type 1 only)
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
Numbness or tinkling in feet or hands(Type 2 only)
Management and Prevention of Diabetes
A successful management of diabetes involves a good coordination between the diet, activity, weight management and drugs consumed by the patient because these parameters help in the release or utilisation of blood glucose. An imbalance between them can result in hyper/hypoglycemic shock resulting in complication or even death.
Healthy lifestyle choices that help treat type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them.
Dietary Management. Eat healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and high in fiber. Eat protein rich food. Choose food with low glycemic index. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid high sugar food, salt and fat foods. Avoid alcoholic and aeratic drinks. Strive for variety to prevent boredom.
Exercise - Get more physical activity. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride your bike. Play tennis. Swim laps. Jog and do gardening. If you can't fit in a long workout, break it up into smaller sessions spread throughout the day.
Weight Management - Lose excess pounds. If you're overweight, losing even 7 percent of your body weight — for example, 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) — can reduce the risk of diabetes.
Maintain Blood Sugar Levels - The below chart explains the ranges for blood sugar:
Counselling - Counselling is very important for diabetics because it is a lifelong disorder. In order to lead a healthy good quality life, the diabetics must be educated adequately. Suitable self-care materials, food guides or even simple innovative recipes for diabetics should be provided. Initial time to time counselling regarding prevention and control or management of diabetics must be provided by a registered dietician
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