Diabetes – Mother of all diseases

Are you at risk ?

What is diabetes? It is a chronic disease where the body does not produce enough insulin, or becomes insensitive to the insulin which is produced. it is a condition of too much sugar or glucose in the blood.

When pancreas gland does not produces enough insulin which is responsible for moving glucose of the the blood into the cells (Glycogen in the liver) where it is broken down to produce energy. Resulting in large quantity of glucose is being passed on to the blood stream and where body is unable to use the glucose in the blood for the production of energy.

The excess of glucose in the blood is filtered in the kidney and passed out through the urine. Which causes frequent and excessive urination which give rise to constant thirst.

Under stress diabetes occurs when your body begins to break down fats for energy instead of glucose, leading to a build up of ketone acids in your blood.

Eating too much of sugar is also one of the major cause. because of the high sugar level in the blood damages the blood vessels (hardening of arteries which lead to damage of the kidney, heart or the brain).

People who suffer from diabetes have a higher risk of developing certain serious health issues. The risk is particularly high for people with diabetes and people who are obese, who smoke or who are not physically active. Diabetes is a disease that can attack at any age.

All forms of diabetes can have serious consequences if left untreated. There is no cure for diabetes, but there is much that can be done from a lifestyle perspective to improve the blood sugar level control and prevent potentially life threatening complications.

There are two type of diabetes

Type 1 or Insulin-dependent diabetes

Type 1 is often referred to an auto immune disease, your immune system attacks the cells in your pancreas destroying them or damaging them. therefore it develops very quickly within days or few weeks. It cannot be inherited. it usually happens to young people (before the age of 40)

Research says, the risk of Type 1 diabetes reduces in child if they been breastfeed and been exposed to vitamin D through sunlight.

Type 2 or Non-Insulin dependent diabetes

Pancreas not functioning properly your Beta-cells are 80% dead before we realize we have diabetes. it is closely linked to obesity and runs in the family (hereditary)

The warning signs or symptoms are :

• Frequent urination
• weight loss
• Feel Exhausted
• Excessive thirst or dehydration
• woulds takes longer to heal
• Body temperature reduces – feel cold
• Calf muscles are in constant pain. mood swings
• Frozen shoulder
• Dry skin & blurred vision

The risk of developing Type -2 diabetes also increases as you get older.

OBESITY – Are you at Risk ?

Obesity is one of the major cause of Diabetes therefore we need to be very careful of our weight

Pinch test – if you can pinch more than an inch of fat on your waist then you have to loose your weight.

Walking is considered as best exercise to control diabetes and it even helps you loose weight. make a practice of 40 to 45 minutes of brisk walking on daily basis

A poorly controlled diabetes

High level of glucose can damage many different parts of body as a result of having too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cell.

Coronary heart disease / stroke : when arteries becomes blocked and narrow it leads to high blood pressure

Diabetes also damages the kidneys which can create more complications in the body.

Poorly controlled diabetes can also damage the back of the eye and can lead to blindness

sexual impotency is also caused due to high levels of uncontrolled sugar in the body.

Prevention is better than cure

As said earlier diabetes is not curable so the only option is prevention.

• Lifestyle changes are mandatory and should be taken seriously.
• Exercise regularly. Minimum 45 minutes 5 times a week
• No smoking and Alcohol
• Avoid all white foods (sugar, white rice, white flour, )
• Manage your stress . Meditation and yoga should be part of your daily life
• Diet plays an important roll in controlling and preventing diabetes.
• Regularly have Jamoon and wood apple in your diet

simple changes in your lifestyle can save you from this deadly disease.