Diabetes- A Potential Epidemic

The number of people affected by diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, says the latest WHO report.
Diabetes is no longer a disease of elaborately rich nations, but it has spread to many low and middle income countries.

What is Diabetes?

It is a progressive chronic disease in which the blood sugar level increases beyond the safe limits. Increased sugar levels gradually affect major internal organs like heart and kidneys.

This anomaly occurs for two reasons

• The pancreas stops producing enough insulin to break down glucose and
• The body loses the ability to utilize insulin to convert blood sugar into energy.

The result of above-stated cases is the dramatic increase in blood sugar levels.

Diabetes has been classified into following four categories:

1. Type 1: It is the insulin-dependent stage. The patient can’t survive without a daily dose of insulin. It is characterised by the inability of Pancreas to produce insulin. This stage is incorrigible and to retain a comfortable living a person must resort to strict eating habits and daily exercises.
2. Type 2:  The patient is not dependent on Insulin. It is characterised by the body’s inability to break down glucose. Majority of diabetic patients suffer from Type 2 diabetes. It generally results from obesity and physical inactivity. In this stage conditions can be improved by changing the lifestyle otherwise there are high chances of progressing to Type 1 diabetes.
3. Gestational Diabetes: In this stage, the blood sugar level is slightly above the normal value. Women with gestational diabetes may see complications during pregnancy and at delivery. Their child is at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
4. Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycaemia: IGM and IFM are the intermediate stages between Type 2 diabetes and normality. The person can’t avoid pressing into Type 2 diabetes.

Consequences of diabetes:

1. Heart attack
2. Kidney failure
3. Vision loss
4. Nerve damage
5. Leg amputation

 Apart from jeopardising lifestyle, diabetes increases the risk of premature death.

Diagnosing Diabetes

Science at its best, diagnosing diabetes comes handy. A simple blood test can reveal if you are suffering from diabetes or not. Treatment of the same must be started as soon as one becomes aware of his/her medical condition.

Prevention and treatment

Treatment of diabetes differs for different stages of it. It should be known that eradicating diabetes completely is not possible yet, but if one remains vigilant he/she can keep a check on diabetes. It being a progressive disease can be devastating if not checked upon.

Blood glucose should be controlled, particularly in type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin, people with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication, but may also require insulin.

The patient must resort to a much-disciplined lifestyle, no cigarette, no aerated or alcoholic drinks and no tobacco.

Retinal scanning must be done at regular intervals to avoid loss of vision.

Yoga can help a lot in curbing diabetes by improving the internal systems of body and obviously by decreasing blood pressure and stress.

Diabetes as a potential epidemic

It can be concluded from the above discussion that diabetes is a silent killer. Lifestyles of people have changed drastically without taking into consideration the impending impacts of these changes. Stress, night shifts, traffic, pollution, contaminated food, polluted water and less rest has deterred our bodily systems. If united steps are not taken to create awareness about diabetes then it will surely result in a global epidemic.

This year the theme of world diabetes day is ‘Women and Diabetes’. Stigmatisation and discrimination faced by people with diabetes are particularly pronounced for girls and women, who carry a double burden of discrimination because of their health status and the inequalities perpetrated in male dominated society. International diabetes foundation and WHO are working hand in hand to create awareness about diabetes.

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