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Search Results for: diabetes

November 13, 2017 By Dr Akshat Chadha Leave a Comment

Diabetes – (Die-in-bits OR NOT)

So I started writing this blog almost a year back and could not complete it in this one year because I felt everybody knows everything about diabetes and what was the point of repeating the same things over and over again. Then, I realized, that this World Diabetes Day instead of the same diabetes facts, what we really need is a real patient case and scenarios to make everybody understand how intense and life-threatening, diabetes as a disease can be.

I remember long back we had a worried parent of a 6year old come into our clinic saying that his son’s urine had ants in it. After taking a proper history we realized that it was not ants in his urine but sugar in the kid’s urine left on the commode which was attracting the ants. Few blood tests later the child was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. That’s Type 1 diabetes, the type which is most commonly seen in the younger kids. Basically, the pancreas barely produces any insulin in these kids which leads to sugar flowing through the blood and causing diabetes.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin or both.

Causes can range from autoimmune destruction, heredity or positive family history, insulin resistance to various infections like pancreatitis. But, the main cause or the root cause of Diabetes especially type 2 which affects mostly the adult population has to be a poor lifestyle.

Diabetes-like we all know can easily go unnoticed, even when a patient has already been diagnosed. Because of this, unfortunately, many don’t pay attention to the possible terrible problems that can happen if your diabetes is not under control.

I remember a case at the beginning of my career, a 40year old man having diabetes for more than 10 years came to our clinic with a complain that he had wound on his foot which was not healing. He knew his sugars were high but still wasn’t taking care. We started him off on the required medicines and within 10 days of better sugars, the wound had healed. He had no memory of how he had hurt himself. After 4months the same patient came back with an even bigger wound but unfortunately this time it had spread so much that his foot could not be saved and had to be amputated.

Does it make sense being so careless with your health and losing your foot just because your sugars are not controlled?

diabetes 1

Let’s discuss the complications of uncontrolled diabetes which can affect almost every organ of your body. Most commonly Diabetes affects your heart, kidneys, eyes, feet and your nerves (neuropathy) at varying degrees. Apart from these, diabetics have a higher risk of infections and dental problems. It is difficult to say what gets affected first but easier to remember that if your blood sugars are not under control, you have set yourself on the path to trouble.

diabetes image 3

During my internship, I got a call from a friend that his dad had a heart attack and they were shifting him to the same hospital where I was working. Fortunately, that month I was posted in the ICU itself so I was happy that I was going to be able to monitor his dad. Just on the opposite bed, there was another man of the same age who had suffered a heart attack the morning before. Almost two weeks later, my friend’s dad was still in the ICU whereas the other man was on his way to get discharged. Another 2 weeks went by but unfortunately, we didn’t see much signs of improvement and eventually we lost him in the next few days. The only big difference between the two patients was that my friend’s dad had uncontrolled diabetes!!

Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). If you have diabetes, you are more likely to have heart disease or stroke.

Your body and your health need a lot of care, attention and need to be your first priority not only at the time when you are sick but more when you are well. The point of this blog is not to scare you but to make you aware, and part of that awareness is knowing how to be able to help yourself. Follow the below tips and start your healthy journey today!

diabetes image 4

Tips to prevent or live well with diabetes

  • Maintain a healthy weight and look out for belly fat
  • Make healthy food choices
  • Be physically active (gradually increase everyday steps and try and reach the 10,000 target)
  • Monitor your sugar levels regularly and keep a check on your blood pressure
  • Get your full body tests done once a year
  • Sleep well and work to manage daily stress
  • Quit smoking
  • If on medications, make sure you take them regularly

November 14, 2016 By Dr Ashwin Nanda 2 Comments

DECODING DIABETES

Diabetes-Day

Last month, I had 2 patients on the same day diagnosed with Diabetes- one an overweight 34 year old IT professional and the other a 6-year-old girl. The reason, why this incident comes to my mind today is because they were both diabetics but, had different diabetes and even their course of treatments was different.

But, the first question I was asked in both the cases was whether they will need to be put on insulin injections immediately. Well, this is a common question asked by patients. To understand this condition better, let me try and explain a bit about the different types of diabetes on the basis of which the required treatment is normally recommended.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin or both. Common symptoms of either diabetes are unexplained weight loss, excess hunger, and excess thirst and delayed wound healing.

Today, I would like to take you through specifically 3 major types of diabetes namely, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational Diabetes.

Let’s talk about

Type 1 Diabetes: is caused by a loss or malfunction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. Damage to beta cells results in absence or insufficient production of insulin. Most cases of Type 1 Diabetes have an autoimmune basis in which immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own beta cells. These cases are detected either in childhood or teenage years. There are many theories about what causes type 1 diabetes like autoimmune disease, viral infection, genetic predisposition and environmental factors may also play a role.

Whatever be the cause, this missing insulin has to be replaced as insulin is necessary to sustain life. It is responsible for entry of glucose into the body cells from where the glucose is further utilized for energy and other activities. This glucose which is not entering the cells is circulating in the blood which gets detected as high blood sugar. The replacement insulin is administered by injection using a syringe or an insulin pump. Thanks to the invention of Insulin clubbed with a healthy lifestyle, a Type 1 diabetic is able to lead a happy good quality life.

Coming to Type 2 diabetes most often than not your tissues will be resistant to insulin, so the insulin is being produced but unfortunately not being utilized properly. It is the most common form of diabetes worldwide and accounts for 90-95% of the cases.

Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes means the signal insulin gives to a cell is weakened. This results in less glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells and a reduction in insulin mediated activities inside cells.

Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include an Unhealthy Lifestyle (being physically inactive or less active, erratic food and sleep habits, stress), being overweight or obese and importantly family history of diabetes in close relatives.

Diabetes-Risk

We have ample medicine combinations for type 2 diabetes like tablets which keep the blood sugar under control. But if sufficient sugar control is not achieved in spite of oral medications and a healthy lifestyle, then insulin might be required for further management.

Another type of Diabetes I would like to talk about is Gestational diabetes which basically refers to diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones can interfere with the way insulin works in the mother’s body which can lead to elevated blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Women are typically screened for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, however, women who have risk factors may be screened earlier.

Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, or over 28 years old. Blood glucose control during pregnancy is critical as elevated maternal glucose levels can lead to pregnancy complications and pose risks to the health of the baby. Gestational diabetes is likely to recur during subsequent pregnancies.

Gestational diabetes requires specialized treatment for the rest of the pregnancy. After the pregnancy is over, most women will have normal blood sugars again; however, up to 20-50 % can develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Regular screening is recommended.

A study conducted on people at risk of type 2 diabetes, it was seen that those who lost just 7% of their weight and exercised about 30 minutes a day cut their risk of diabetes by nearly 60%. In a nutshell, irrespective of the type of diabetes the best prevention or diabetes management strategy is to eat healthy, stay active and keep a check on your weight.

Reference: University of California, San Francisco – Diabetes online Education website.

November 10, 2016 By Farida Gohil 1 Comment

Whole Grains slash Pre-Diabetes Risk!

Whole grains

Whole grains are packed with nutrients, including protein, fiber, B vitamins, anti-oxidants, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium). A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer.

The addition of more whole grains into a healthy diet is associated with a decreased risk of deteriorating glucose tolerance, including progression from normal glucose tolerance to pre-diabetes, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

According to a research paper titled Food Product Design, dated Dec 26, 2012 published in Health and Nutrition, researchers at Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital investigated whether a higher intake of whole grains protects against the development of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes and tested for modulation by polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene. Participants included 5,477 Stockholm residents aged 35 to 56 years who were not diagnosed with diabetes and who kept food journals of how much whole and refined grains they consumed. Researchers measured blood glucose in study participants and followed up 10 years later.

Participants who ate 59 grams of whole grains a day had a 34% lower risk to deteriorate in glucose tolerance compared to those who ate 30 grams of whole grains a day. Risk reduction was significant in men, but not in women. Participants who consumed 59 grams of whole grains a day also had a 27% reduced risk of becoming pre-diabetic.

Whole grains are rich in fibre. Fibre in the diet does not allow the blood glucose levels to rise thereby controls the rise in sugar levels in the body. Fibre also helps in lowering cholesterol as it helps in decreasing the low density lipoprotein whch is bad cholesterol and increases high density lipoprotein which is good cholesterol.

What foods are in the grains group?

Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products.

It is advised that at least half the grains in your diet should be whole grains. Whole-grain versions of rice, bread, cereal, flour and pasta can be found at most grocery stores. Many whole-grain foods come ready to eat. These include a variety of breads, pastas and cereals.

Examples of whole grains include:

  • Barley
  • Brown rice
  • Buckwheat
  • Bulgur (cracked wheat)
  • Millet
  • Oatmeal
  • Popcorn
  • Whole-wheat bread, pasta or crackers
  • Wild rice

It’s not always easy to tell what kind of grains a product has, especially bread. For instance, a brown bread isn’t necessarily whole wheat — the colour may come from added colouring. If you’re not sure something has whole grains, check the product label or the Nutrition Facts panel. Look for the word “whole” on the package, and make sure whole grains appear among the first items in the ingredient list.

April 7, 2016 By GOQii Editor 4 Comments

India becoming a ‘Sweet Nation’: Let’s beat Diabetes

diabetes
India is becoming a sweeter nation by the day. Wondering what I mean by a sweeter nation. Today , on this day of World Diabetes day we would like to take you through some facts about diabetes. According to the World Health Organisation, India has been declared as the Diabetic capital of the world.

The statistics are alarming. In 2000 there were 32 million diabetics in India, in 2013, the figure doubled to 63 million and by 2030 it has been projected to touch 101.2 million. India ranks second, between China with 90 million and the USA with 24 million diabetics. The factors largely driving this dramatic rise include overweight and obesity. The annual spend on diabetes is Rs 1.5 lakh crore, 4 times the central Government’s allocation of Rs 32000 crore.

The Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi on World health day said on twitter that a healthy lifestyle is a key to overcoming diabetes. “Our lifestyle is the biggest cause for diabetes. If every citizen of my country is healthy, then my country will be healthy. I call upon you to defeat diabetes, which plays host to so many diseases,” said Modi in his message to Indians on World health day.

Some Facts

  • 422 Million adults globally suffer from diabetes
  • 5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year
  • 1 in 3 adults aged over 18 years is overweight and 1 in 10 is obese

Source: WHO

Diabetes can be controlled however with exercise. Here are some excerpts from a blog written by one of the GOQii coaches Disti Shah. According to Disti, the facts and myths about diabetes are plenty especially on the kind of foods one should have or not have, whether one should exercise to control diabetes etc. But diet is not all that one needs to focus on. Exercise is equally important.

However, when diabetes exercises one should keep in mind the following at what sugar levels should we allow or not allow a diabetic person to exercise? What should be the intensity and frequency of exercise and What type of exercise should a Diabetic do?

Here are some information on about how regular exercise can control your Diabetes.

How does Exercise Help in Diabetes?

  1. Lowers blood sugar levels.
  2. Helps you feel better.
  3. Help maintain proper body weight.
  4. Help keep the heart rate and blood pressure lower.
  5. Helps keep blood fats levels normal.
  6. Improves insulin sensitivity.
  7. Help maintain normal blood circulation in the feet.

Now that we know seven of the many reasons why exercise is important for a person with diabetes, let’s know which exercise benefits diabetics.

Which kinds of Exercise are Best?

Expert agrees you need either

  1. 30 minutes of “moderate intensity” aerobic activity – 5 days a week.
  2. “Vigorous intense” aerobic activity 20 minutes or more a day – 3-5 days a week.

In addition, you should add flexibility and strength training to your routine.

  1. Flexibility activities 5-7 days a week.
  2. Strength training 8-10 exercise, 10-15 repetitions of each exercise, 2-3 days a week.

Calories Per hour and the types of moderate and vigorous exercises

Moderate physical activity for one hour Calorie burnt per hour
Hiking 370
Light gardening / Yard work 330
Dancing 330
Golf(walking and carrying clubs) 330
Bicycling (<10mph) 290
Walking   (3.5mph) 280
Weight lifting (light workout) 220
Stretching 180
Vigorous physical activity for one hour

 

Running / Jogging (5mph) 590
Bicycling (>10mph) 590
Swimming (Slow freestyle laps) 510
Aerobics 480
Walking (4-5 mph) 460
Heavy Yard work (chopping wood) 440
Weight lifting (vigorous effort) 440
Basket ball (vigorous) 440

Source – Dietary guidelines for Americans – 2005 *(These values are not specifically for Indians as they are taken from American journals)

Remember that Diabetes cannot take your hope, faith, attitude, courage, happiness, and happy life away from you. We are the author of our own health and disease. Let’s overcome it, no matter what type or what level of disease it is. Let’s help others and ourselves to be active most of the time. Exercise can permanently remove or reduce medication.

To read it at length go to http://goqii.com/blog/regular-exercise-can-control-diabetes/

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