Today, Diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and breast cancer combined. With alarmingly high percentage of diabetic patients reported each year, India is on its way to becoming the diabetes capital of the world.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that triggers high blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. Although diabetic patients can lead a normal life, uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious long-term complications. The saddest fact about this medical condition is that it cannot be cured, it can only be managed to make you feel better.
This year’s theme for World Health Day calls for a renewed focus on Diabetes, its prevention, control & treatment
With regards to the same, let’s unveil a few lesser known facts about Diabetes
- It is reported that, in approximately 50% of cases Diabetes doesn’t show obvious symptoms in patients, which is why it is termed as a silent-killer.
- Diabetes can have one or multiple causes. Genetic makeup, family history, ethnicity, health and environmental factors play an important role in the detection of this disease
- Research indicates that in approximately 90% of cases, unhealthy eating habits are the possible triggers for Diabetes. Eating a wholesome breakfast reduces the chances of Type 2 diabetes. Try to avoid sweetened beverages, fried and prepackaged food items.
- Experts also believe that people with a sedentary lifestyle double their risk of diabetes and several cardio vascular illnesses owing to raised sugar/cholesterol levels and insulin readings. 2minute walk around the office every half an hour can actually help you keep diabetes at bay. These brief walkabouts at your work place can save you from the misery of diabetes in the long run.
- Sometimes this medical condition causes a significant amount of damage to the capillaries and blood vessels of the eyes, resulting in blurred vision and even or complete blindness in extreme cases. Conditions like cataracts and glaucoma can be aggravated by diabetes, but the most common issue is diabetic retinopathy (diabetic eye disease)
- Those diagnosed with severe Diabetes should frequently check their blood sugar levels. If a patient’s blood sugar level shoots up significantly (hyperglycemia) or falls too low (hypoglycemia), he/she could fall into a diabetic coma.
- Diabetes can also cause complications during pregnancy.
- Diabetic patients to stay away from Alcohol. While moderate amounts of alcohol can shoot-up the blood sugar levels, excess alcohol can actually decrease them – sometimes causing it to drop to dangerous levels.
- Diabetes can sometimes develop during pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy causes the blood sugar levels to increase which triggers gestational diabetes in some women. In most cases, after giving birth, the pregnancy hormones and the blood sugar levels subside, alleviating diabetes in the process.
- Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure in the world.
In the absence of timely detection and treatment, diabetes can virtually damage all organs of the body. Featuring a wide range of relevant medical tests, The Basic Diabetes Package at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is designed to diagnose & treat such complications at the right time.
