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Diabetes Mellitus: – often referred simply as Diabetes is a common disease. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder wherein, the human body is not in the condition to produce enough or does not properly utilize the insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas which enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy. In diabetes, the body either fails to properly respond to its own insulin, does not make enough insulin or both. This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood, often leading to various complications. Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by constant high levels of blood glucose (sugar). Human body has to maintain the blood glucose level at a very narrow range, which is done with insulin and glucagons. The function of glucagons is causing the liver to release glucose from its cells into the blood, for the production of energy. There are many types of diabetes. The principal three are:

• Type 1 Diabetes – Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin.

• Type 2 Diabetes – Results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with relative insulin deficiency.

• Gestational Diabetes – Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational     diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women. It may precede development of type 2 (or rarely type 1).

• Many other forms of diabetes mellitus are categorized separately from these. Examples include congenital diabetes due to genetic defects of insulin secretion, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid diabetes induced by high doses of glucocorticoids (Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor, which is present in almost every vertebrate animal cell.), and several forms of Monogenic Diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes obstruct a person’s carefree life. When breaking down of glucose in the body is stopped completely, it takes the help of fat and protein to produce the energy, due to which symptoms like polydipsia, polyuria, polyphegia, excessive weight loss etc is noticed in a diabetic. Normal blood sugar level in a human body is between 70 mg/dl to 110 mg/dl at fasting state. If blood sugar level is lower than 70 mg/dl, it is termed as hypoglycemia and if it is higher than 110 mg/dl, it is termed as hyperglycemia. Though all forms of diabetes have become treatable since 1921 because of the availability of Insulin, it’s not fully curable except a pancreas transplant, although gestational diabetes normally resolves after delivery. Acute complications in diabetes include hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmdar coma which may occur if the disease isn’t treated or properly controlled. Serious long term includes cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, and retinal damage leading to blindness, nerve failure, erectile dysfunction and poor wound healing, which, particularly of the feet may cause gangrene, possibly requiring amputation.

Proper and adequate treatment of diabetes as well as increased emphasis and special care about the increased blood pressure and life style factors such as not smoking, having a healthy and fit body may improve the risk profile of most of the chronic complications. Over weight, lack of exercise, family history, stress etc increase the risk of diabetes. Diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non elderly and the leading cause of non traumatic amputation in adults.

Author: Amrita Lahiri

What is Diabetes ?

In our body there is an organ known as pancreas which produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin is necessary for converting starch, sugar and other foods into energy. But when the pancreas of a person does not work properly due to any disorder then the person is said to be affected by diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes: – Type I and Type II

Type I Diabetes: – When pancreas does not produce insulin due to absence of beta cells or destruction of beta cells then the condition falls in the category of type I diabetes. As children are mostly affected by this type of diabetes so it is also known as juvenile diabetes.

Type II Diabetes: – This type of diabetes is caused when pancreas produces in sufficient insulin to metabolize the glucose.

Diabetes is a silent killer which can damage heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, etc.

Though diabetes type II is not supposed to strike teenagers but due to change of our life style and diet these days teenagers are also being affected by this type (type II) of diabetes.

Diabetes type II can be controlled if we change our sedentary life style and diet.

Preventions: -

i) Sugar intake should be reduced
ii) High fat diet with a lot of calories should be avoided.
iii) Low fat diet should be taken.
iv) Physical activity is necessary. Walking or other physical exercise is essential to control blood sugar.
v) Plenty of vegetables, salad should be taken.
vi) Plenty of water is necessary.
vii) While bread, rice, potatoes should be avoided as far as possible.

Author: Surya Narayan Bhattacharya