World Diabetes Day : Diabetes and well-being

Dr Kshetrimayum Kala Singh
Contd from previous issue
It is mandatory to register all the patients with necessary mobile phones, Whatsapp & e-mail for future correspondence.
All the family members should educate or learn about this disease at the earliest. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE IT HAS DEVELOPED DIABETES DOES NOT GO AWAY AND THE THREAT OF SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS NEVER GOES AWAY. For this reason, a person who has diabetes may need the help and support of their family
What is Diabetes
There are three main types of Diabetes
Type -1 Diabetes
· Usually diagnosed in children (juvenile diabetes) and young adults.
· The body does not produce insulin
· There is a destruction of insulin secreting cells (â-cells) of pancreas in our body.
· The cause is immune-mediated or idiopathic.
· Usually requires external insulin therapy, hence known as Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
· 5-10% of diabetic have Type-1 Diabetes.
Type-2 Diabetes
Affects 90-95% of diabetic patients. Also known as Non-Insulin-Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). Body does not produce enough insulin (Insulin Deficiency) or the body cells do not respond to insulin (Insulin Resistance) or both, asymptomatic for many years. Various risk factors include family history, age above 40 years, sedentary lifestyle, diet, excess body weight and history of gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes display high blood sugar level during pregnancy, usually occur at around 28 week or later affect about 4% of all pregnant women, usually goes away after pregnancy, raises mother’s risk of getting Type-2 diabetes for the rest of her life. Also raises the child’s risk of being overweight and getting diabetes, causes are unknown.
Sign & symptoms of Diabetes
Frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, excess thirst, lack of energy, blurry vision, extreme hunger, slow wound healing, frequent infection, very dry skin, tingling & numbness in hands & feet.
Risk factors for Diabetes
 Family history, age over 40 years, sedentary lifestyle, overweight, history of gestational diabetes.
Complications of Diabetes
It is a sweet killer and becomes foundation of many other illness like Diabetic Retinopathy causing blindness, diabetic nephropathy leading to failure of kidney, nerve damage and neuropathy with erectile dysfunction, Heart attack account for at least 70% of all death in people with diabetes, stroke resulting from clogging of the arteries providing nutrition to the brain, lower limb infection causing gangrene & amputation.
The World Diabetes Day Campaign aims
To promote International Diabetic federation advocacy efforts through the year to promote the importance of taking diabetes as a critical global health issue. The campaign is represented by a blue circle logo that was adopted in 2007 after the passage of the UN resolution on diabetes. The blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetic epidemic. Activities organized each year include, Radio and Television Programmes, free screening for diabetes and its complications, Poster and leaflet campaigns, diabetic workshop and exhibitions, press conferences, newspaper and magazines articles, walks and runs etc.
Management of Diabetes
30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. Maintain healthy weight, Eat less fat and salt, stop smoking, eat more fibre containing food, reduce alcohol consumption, eat at least 3 different times throughout the day. Diet and lifestyle are considered to be the cornerstone of treatment of diabetes.
IDF recommendations for a healthy diet for the general population
· Choosing water, coffee or tea  instead of fruit juice, soda, or other sugar sweetened beverages
· Eating at least servings of vegetable every day, including green leafy vegetables
· Eating up to three servings of fresh fruit every day
· Choosing nuts, a piece of fresh fruit, or unsweetened yoghurt for a snack
· Limiting alcohol intake to a maximum of two standard drinks per day
· Choosing lean cuts of white meat, poultry or seafood instead of red or processed meat
· Choosing peanut butter instead of chocolate spread or jam
· Choosing whole-grain bread, rice or pasta instead of white bread, rice, or pasta
· Choosing unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, or sunflower oil) instead of  saturated fats (butter, ghee, animal fat, coconut oil or palm oil)
Diabetes is a sweet killer. So it is to be prevented at the earliest time.The more we delay the more damage to the vital organs. Prevention may be Primary, Secondary & Tertiary.
Primary Prevention
Maintenance of normal body weight, physical exercise and good nutrition include and adequate protein, intake, a high intake of dietary fibre and avoidance of sweet foods. Alcohol should be avoided. Also avoid oral contraceptives.
Secondary Prevention
(a) To maintain blood glucose level by treatment.
(b) To maintain ideal body weight.
(c) Testing glucose levels every three years after the age of 45.
Tertiary Prevention
(a) To organise specialized clinics (Diabetic clinics).
(b) To establish basic Clinical Research.
(c) To establish epidemiological Research.
(d) To establish national registries for diabetes.
LIFE DOES NOT END WITH DIABETES AND THERE IS STILL HOPE

The writer is president of the Manipur Heart Care Society