What is Diabetes?
The word diabetes has been derived from two words, diabetes (Greek) which means 'siphon through' and mellitus (Latin) which means 'sweetened with honey'. It is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. Diabetes requires daily self care and if complications develop, diabetes can have a significant impact on quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, you can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and effectively managing it.
There are different types of diabetes; all types are complex and serious. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
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Type-1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes happens when your immune system destroys cells in your pancreas called beta cells.
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Type-2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose) � an important source of fuel for your body.
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Gestational Diabetes (GD)
It refers to the onset or initial recognition of glucose intolerance during pregnancy, usually in the second or third trimester.
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Others
There are also genetic defects of blood sugar, beta cells of pancreas, exocrine disease of pancreas, endocrinopathies, drug induced diabetes.
Signs & Symptoms of Diabetes
It includes symptoms like
- Excessive thirst and hunger feeling
- Frequent urination, mostly during night
- Blurring of vision (diabetic retinopathy)
- Tiredness feeling all time
- Unexplained weight loss
- Delayed wound healing (diabetic foot ulcer)
Causes of Diabetes:
- Familial predisposition
- Lack of Physical activity like yoga & exercise
- Mental & Environmental stress
- Irregular meal times, too much sweet, sour, salty foods and drinks
- Foods that increase kapha, medhas and moothra
- Delayed wound healing (diabetic foot ulcer)
How to detect diabetes?
- Measure random blood sugar / fasting blood sugar
- A1C test
- Test urine & Ketones
How we manage Diabetes?
- We understand your case history.
- An on the spot blood suger test is done.
- HbA1c test is conducted.
- Diabetes educator clears your doubts
- An easy-to-do daily excercise regime is advised.
- An easy to follow diet plan is designed.
- Continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS - 336 hrs, non-stop) is offered, if needed.
- Your blood suger levels gradually become manageable.
- Our patient care exeutive follows-up with you regularly.
Prediabetes is a wake-up call that you're on the path to diabetes. If your Sugal Levels are higher than normal but in the Diabetes Range, then you are a Pre-Diabetic.
According to a report by The Week, there are around 80 million people with pre-diabetes in India. Most of them have not been diagnosed because pre-diabetes can only be detected through screening, and there are no symptoms at this stage.
| Plasma glucose test | Normal | Prediabetes |
|---|---|---|
| Random | Below 11.1 mmol/l Below 200 mg/dl | N/A |
| Fasting | Below 5.5 mmol/l Below 100 mg/dl | N5.5 to 6.9 mmol/100 to 125 mg/dl |
| 2 hour post-prandial | Below 7.8 mmol/l Below 140 mg/dl | 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/140 to 199 mg/dl |
None. Although most people with prediabetes have no symptoms, you might notice you're extra thirsty, pee a lot more, or have blurred vision or extreme fatigue.
Yes. Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your skin. When diabetes affects the skin, it's often a sign that your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high. Among many signs
- Skin tags
- Yellow, reddish, or brown patches on your skin (Necrobiosis lipoidica)
- Darker area of skin around neck that feels like velvet (Acanthosis nigricans (AN))
- Hard, thickening skin on fingers, toes (digital sclerosis)
- Blisters (bullosis (bull-low-sis) diabetricorum)
- Shin spots or depressed lines on skin (diabetic dermopathy)
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Are African-American, Native American, Latino, or Pacific Islander
- Are overweight or obese, especially around the middle (belly fat)
- Have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and a high LDL cholesterol
- Don't exercise
- People over age 45 are most likely to get it.
Prediabetes makes you more likely to get heart disease or have a stroke. But you can take action to lower those risks.
Your doctor will give you one of three simple blood tests:
Fasting plasma glucose test. You won't eat for 8 hours before taking this blood test.
The results are:
- Normal if your blood sugar is less than 100
- Prediabetes if your blood sugar is 100-125
- Diabetes if your blood sugar is 126 or higher
Oral glucose tolerance test. First, you'll take the fasting glucose test. Then you'll drink a sugary solution. Two hours after that, you'll take another blood test.
The results are:
- Normal if your blood sugar is less than 140 after the second test
- Prediabetes if your blood sugar is 140-199 after the second test
- Diabetes if your blood sugar is 200 or higher after the second test
Hemoglobin A1C (or average blood sugar) test. This blood test shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. Doctors can use it to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes or, if you already know you have diabetes, it helps show whether it's under control.
The results are:
- Normal: 5.6% or less
- Prediabetes: 5.7 to 6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or above
If you do not want to become diabetic in near future, the top 3 things you must do are:
1. Weight control. If you're overweight, your prediabetes is more likely to turn into diabetes. Losing even as little as 5% to 10% of your body weight makes a difference.
2. Exercise. Get moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day, such as cycling, swimming, or brisk walking. It helps prevent and manage diabetes, studies show. Aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart rate up, is ideal. If you're not active now, check with your doctor first.
3. Nutrition. Go for meals that mix low-fat protein, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit calories, serving sizes, sugar, and starchy carbs. Favor fiber-rich foods, which help you feel full and not eat too much.
Yes.
- Our approach is simple, yet effective. We have a team of qualified Diabetes Experts and Nutritionists who remain with the patient from diagnosis till recovery.
- We try not to put our patients on medication straightaway.
- We help them through counselling - where we educate them about Diabetes.
- We conduct few essential tests and discuss the results with the patients in details.
- We chalk out an easy to follow diet plan
- We work out an easy-to-do exercise regime.
- Lastly, we prescribe integrated medicines (combination of Ayurveda and Allopath) for instant and long lasting relief.
- Our team follows up with the Patient on regular basis so that they are encouraged to follow our prescription religiously
