Diabetes - An Overview

  • Diabeties
    Diabetes
    Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level.  The burden of diabetes is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries. While the causes are complex, but the increase is in large part due to rapid increases in overweight, including obesity and physical inactivity. There is good evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and its complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 1 June 2014
Stock pic that says Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level. Blood glucose is the main source of energy for the body and we get it from the food we eat which is broken down into glucose. For glucose to get into the cells, insulin, a pancreatic hormone is required. In patients with diabetes, the pancreas produces less or no insulin or the cells don’t respond to the insulin produced. This leads to the accumulation of glucose in the blood which is then excreted out of the body in urine. The body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of sugar. 

What is the difference between hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia?

Hyperglycemia is increased blood sugar in the range 100-126 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia is low level of sugar in blood, which leads to sweating, palpitations, increased respiratory rate etc.

 

Community
Diabetes
Condition
Diabetes

Stories

  • 10 Tips for Better Sleep
    Millions of people round the world are chronic users of sleeping pills or other intoxicants to rest each night increasing the risk of death and poor health. Dr A Banerjee, Director Sleep Medicine and Research Center at MGM Institute of Health Sciences emphasizes the importance of good sleep to regenerate the body’s mechanisms and ward off diseases like diabetes, hypertension and bipolar disorder. #WorldSleepDay Sleep is essential for a healthy life. Every person requires the right amount…
  • Catch our FB live Q&A event on the Diabetic Diet
    Don't miss our FB live event with dietitian and Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi on Thursday 02nd March 2017 4pm IST, 6.30pm SGT. Get your questions and join the FB live event tomorrow
  • The Highs and Lows of an LCHF diet
    Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi explains the risks of the Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet if precautions are not taken, even though it has often yielded amazing results of weight loss Diet trends have undergone a steady transformation over the years, all the way from low fat diet to high protein ones. And in the last 11 years, the idea of reversing and consuming a low carbohydrate diet by increasing the fat consumption has been making waves. Ketogenic diet, Atkins diet and recently the LCHF diets…
  • Time to Bust some Insulin Myths and Fears
    Bhavya Munjal, Clinical Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator at Fortis CDOC (Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic diseases & Endocrinology) debunks 12 prevailing myths about insulin used to treat type 2 diabetes. Insulin is the most misunderstood drug. Many patients with type 2 diabetes avoid it and some accuse it of causing diabetic complications. Yet insulin is one of the best treatments available for keeping blood glucose levels in target range. For people who have…
  • White Meat vs Red Meat: Which is Healthier?
    Is it true that red meat should be avoided, while white meat encouraged? Bonnie Lau, an Australian-trained dietitian, counselling patients on GlycoLeap, answers. Here, we compare the pros and cons of both and helps you decide which type of meat you should eat in the future. Meat is a great source of protein and lots of vitamins and minerals. But there are claims that red meat (mutton, lamb, beef, pork) should generally be avoided, while white meat (chicken, duck, fish) is encouraged. We look at…
  • Can You Make Your Favourite Foods Healthier?
    You don't have to feel guilty digging into that pizza! Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju suggests ways of reducing calories of your favourite food like pizza and fried rice and making them wholesome and healthy. Check out the calorie counts! Wholesome Pizza Everyone loves pizza. But mind you…it can be a sinister source of calories and fats. Is there any way of giving it a nutritional upgrade, instead of ruthlessly banishing it as junk food? Yes definitely. You can make your pizza a whole lot…
  • A person at the gym lifting weight while looking at the mirror
    Perils of Body Weight Going Up and Down Rapidly
    When actors go through phases of rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss in preparation for film roles, many eyebrows are often raised among health professionals. Dr Shital Raval lists out reasons why it is medically dangerous and unhealthy of such yo-yoing. Imagine going from 68 kg to 93 kg in six months and then back again to original size. Well...That’s what actor Aamir Khan did recently oscillating from rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss. While Khan’s bulging - thinning programme…
  • Image shows a women holding a brush with clumps of hair during PCOS
    How Do I Deal With PCOS?
    Could Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) be the cause of your hair loss or excessive facial hair? If it isn't treated or the underlying causes not addressed, over time it can lead to infertility, diabetes and heart disease. Obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr. Chandan Dubey advises on the key treatments for PCOS: What is the first line of treatment for most PCOS patients? PCOS is characterised by and diagnosed when two of the following 3 features are seen in a woman: Menstrual cycles coming at…
  • Heart Friendly and Diabetes Friendly Healthy and Tasty Recipes
    Are you looking for recipes that are heart friendly, reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular risk and are diabetes friendly? Have you got tired eating the same bland diet that you have been put on? Did you think that healthy foods cannot be tasty?  You liked our previous book on weight loss and are looking for more nutritious recipes?  Download our healthy cookbook prepared in conjunction with our panelled dietitians by clicking here or on the image below. If you are already…
  • No Stigma for a Person with Diabetes!
    Diabetes Awareness and You (DAY), Kolkata says that food and lifestyle habits play a significant role in the prevalence of diabetes in West Bengal. PatientsEngage talks to DAY on the steps to help manage diabetes especially among women.   What are the challenges of Diabetes Mellitus in WB? Is it different from the rest of the country? (Kolkata has the second highest prevalence rate of diabetes among Indian metros) The world is moving on the wheels of scientific advancements, adding years…