Types of Diabetes and Prevention Measures

My last article on tips to prevent diabetes was a small but concise list of steps you could take to prevent diabetes, But readers began asking questions related to diabetes so much that I decided to write a full article on types of diabetes and more preventive measures. If you are a diabetic patient, do not skip the introduction part as it explains in detail what causes diabetes which you need to know. Diabetes is the most common non-communicable disease. Everyone knows that diabetes is related with insulin and pancreas. So it won’t be appropriate to tell about diabetes without mentioning about pancreas and insulin. So let’s see from where insulin is secreted.

Pancreas and Islets Of Langerhans

Pancreas is the endocrine organ in our body. This organ consists of one million microscopic clusters of cell which is called the islets of Langerhans weighing not more than one to one and half grams. These cells are of four types. They are Beta (68%), alpha (20%), delta (10%) and PP cells or pancreatic polypeptide cells (2%). The percentage composition is representing the islets cell clusters of an adult.

The most important trigger for releasing insulin is nothing but blood glucose level.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by “a defective or deficient insulin secretary response”. It results in impaired carbohydrate /glucose synthesis. Thus ultimately results in hyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus do consists of many disorders having hyperglycemia as the most common feature.

In short Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of the nutrient metabolism. Thus it is characterized by a deranged carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.

Types of diabetes

There are three types.

1. With just 5% of incidence Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young [MODY] is due to the genetic defects of beta cells.

2. Type 1 diabetes: it was once called juvenile onset diabetes. Type one is otherwise called as IDDM, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. It has 10%of incidence.

3. Type 2 diabetes: this one was once called as the non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 2 is otherwise called as NIDDM, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Life style is the major culprit here.

Diagnosis for diabetic patients

If you experience excessive thirst, hunger, maturation tendencies, sudden loss of weight, fatigue, bad breath after consulting a dentist and when he couldn’t see any issues with your teeth; then please do check your blood glucose level and urinary glucose level. Even if you don’t feel any of these symptoms after the age of 25 it’s recommended to go for a routine health check which includes fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, HbA1C, haemoglobin level, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, HDL…

A non diabetic person’s fasting blood sugar should be less than 120. Random blood sugar level should be less than 180.

Apart from the blood glucose level there is yet another tool to diagnose diabetes. It’s a test which The American Diabetic Association recommends. HbA1C should be tested every half yearly. The [HbA1C] glycosylated haemoglobin which is a better indicator of diabetes than blood glucose level should be less than 7. The glycosylated haemoglobin is that part of the hemoglobin on RBC that is attached to the glucose. The level is an indicator of average blood glucose level of last six months. If you are detected diabetic then please don’t delay to get yourself a self check meter, by which you can monitor your blood glucose and get the information to take timely action if you have low blood sugar or high blood sugar.

Do You Think You Are Not In The Risk Group?

It’s said that if one of your parents is diabetic you have 50%chance of developing diabetes. If both your parents are diabetic there is 75%chance of getting diabetes.

Diabetes is emerging as a common chronic disease even in developing countries like India. By 2025 one out of four diabetic patients in world will be an Indian. It’s a fact that this high ratio is due to Indians having a genetic predisposition to diabetes.

Which ever be the nation as far as obesity rate increases, side by side diabetes rate also increases.

Diabetes is highly related to stressful life style. So in short each and every individual in today’s world can’t escape from the clutches of diabetes so easily unless you follow a healthy life style. This can be clearly demonstrated by the fact that rural areas diabetes is 4 fold less than in urban areas. So modernization is a reason for diabetes.

But how is urbanization which means better living gives you this chronic disease?

For better time management in the busy world people have made kitchen to be just for cooking frozen food stuffs. People are depending on fast food, French fries, potato chips….Not having a check on dietary needs consuming excess quantities. By Using lots of sugar, sweetened colas, using lots of fat in diet for improving tastes, not doing exercises, not having food in time, not having good sleep, stressed up for making more and more money people are welcoming this chronic disease to their lives.

Smoking has got a direct link with diabetes. I won’t tell you to try hard to reduce smoking. But I can tell you to quit smoking.

Why diabetes is deadly?

• Study conducted by Duke University, North Carolina says that diabetic patients have seen losing their antioxidants stored in the body. But this complication can be overcome by including fruits in your diet and/or taking supplements.
• It increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• It lowers your resistance levels.
• You experience more fatigue than people of your age.
• Wounds take longer to heal.

Complications of diabetes

To admit the truth I have considered diabetes like any other non communicable disease until my father was tested positive for diabetes 5 years back. I admit it’s a chronic disease. But from then you start putting a check on what you consume. You start workout. A diabetic patient is unable either to produce sufficient insulin or use insulin effectively.  After years of being diabetic patient without taking care of the disease condition, one will be risking his own heart, blood vessels, nerves [diabetic neuropathy], kidneys [diabetic nephrology], and eyes [diabetic retinopathy] they will feel numbness in the hands and feet or tingling in the extremities. When diabetes starts affecting your kidneys albumin will be excreted in the urine. It will be detected if its quantity is above 300mg/liter of urine. Studies show that more than 70%of diabetes’s patients have nerve damage or some form of neuropathy. Of these symptoms some are considered positive as this makes a person to seek medical advice. They are tingling sensation, numbness, and pain. The symptoms in the second category, negative list are for example loss of sensation/ feeling … is often neglected.

Managing Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease. It leads to many complications. But it’s manageable too. Diabetes will lead to failure of other organs. It’s not a deadly disease if taken care. You can lead a normal life.

Eat small meals at regular intervals. Don’t over burden with heavy food. All you got to do is supply body with nutrients regularly. Eat every 2 hours.

Try not to include any

1. Sweets

2. Sweetened colas

3. Fried items

4. Red meat

5. Chips in your diet.

If you don’t lie to have special diabetes recipes including ragi, then don’t. Instead have moderate quantities of a variety of foods. Keep in mind that like obese patients you too have to stick on to regular meal time. Diabetes patients according to the Columbia University do show a deficiency to magnesium levels. Other than people with kidney complaints can go for magnesium supplements. ‘Bilberry’, a herb that prevents diabetic retinopathy has also found helpful in preventing abnormal blood clotting. Gymnema silvestre, an Indian herb helps to control blood sugar. It may help to reduce the need for insulin. Lots of research has been carried out in these areas.

EXERCISE REGULARLY.

Do exercise daily by which you are not keeping diabetes under control, but also it’s a shield against cardiovascular diseases. It’s said that those burning 13000 to 15000 kilojoules a week through exercise are having least chances to prevent type 2 diabetes. Control your body weight. Proper taking care of diabetes and blood pressure will keep your kidneys healthy.

You can monitor your own glucose level. Self monitoring of blood glucose will warn you and you can be your own health adviser.

Foot Care is of great significance. Always wear slippers/shoes. Using a mirror closely inspect even the bottom of feet for any wounds, blisters, redness. If it’s a new shoe, for the initial day do wear that for not more than an hour. Do a pedicure every week. You can very much moisturize, but it would be better to leave the in between skin of your toes.

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