Diabetes

Delhi-based Pushpa Garde is 75 years old and has been ably handling diabetes for the last 25 years, mainly with lifestyle changes and a proper diet, which she has maintained meticulously. About 30 years ago I had a boil on my breast which was not healing. Out of fear, I went to a Cancer specialist. My blood test was done and the fasting sugar came out to be 196. I was asked to cut down my sugar consumption. So the first casualty was the sweet tea. I stopped taking sugar in my tea. In Mahabharat…

Marianne de Nazareth, 60, who has diabetes, began controlling her sugar levels in all earnestness after she received a jolt with partial loss of her eyesight. Now she is super conscious about her diet and runs with a passion. Take a leaf from her journey. To be diagnosed with diabetes at 35 was the lowest point of my life. It was during the birth of my third child, Steve, that I was detected with borderline sugar. But I never really had time to bother about it. I was caught in the throes of…

With increase in global warming, summers have become much hotter in recent years. Rising temperatures are seen with poor air quality, severe weather patterns and higher UV ray radiation. It becomes important to protect yourself and your family from the extreme heat, especially those who are living with a chronic condition.  Here is a look at certain diseases that are most affected by the summer heat and ways on how they can be better managed during summer. If any of your symptoms are not…

Dr. KR Vasudevan, Director Liver Transplantation, PSRI Hospital talks about the major risks for a liver disease and how to keep our liver healthy. Also, are herbs and supplements safe for the liver?  #WorldLiverDay Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Liver disease or MASLD (earlier called NAFLD) is the most common cause of Hepatic disease around the world. Why is that? Increasing opulence has brought about changes in life style. Availability of processed food and decreasing physical activity…

Dr Divya Parashar, Head of Rehabilitation Psychology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, shares about her own battle with weight issues and how her loss of the extra kilos also invited flak. This is me, 12 years ago, when we were packing to return to India, and a few months after I had just turned 30 and started on a journey to regain my health by losing a whole lot of weight. Weight that was playing host to a few medical conditions: PCOD, Metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, pre-…

Dr Paromita Ganguli, Senior Dental Surgeon with Fortis, Calcutta, explains the correlation between diabetes and dental care, and how the former, if not controlled, can affect dental health adversely. What are the most common oral health problems affecting persons with diabetes? The stomatognathic system comprising the oral cavity, the lining mucosa, the dentition, the periodontium supporting bone muscles and nerves are usually all affected with diabetes.  The most common diseases are:…

In most cases, due to late diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, the mean survival period is less than 6 months. In such cases, management of Pancreatic Cancer should include: Palliative chemotherapy helps reduce the symptoms of pancreatic cancer thus improving the quality of life for the patient. Be sure to discuss side-effects with your Oncologist before starting. Pain management with opioid analgesics, nerve blocks and morphine (at later stages). Relief of duct blockages using a stent during ERCP…

The exact cause of most Pancreatic cancers is still unknown but there are established risk factors that greatly increase the likelihood of getting cancer in the pancreas. Most risk factors affect or alter the DNA of the cells that causes abnormal growth of cells; such DNA mutations can also be due to inherited genes. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Risk factors of Pancreatic Cancer: Tobacco use: this includes both smoking and smokeless…

In our AsktheDoctor series, Dr Shailesh Shrikhande of Tata Memorial, Mumbai helps us better understand one of the most sudden and deadly cancers - Pancreatic Cancer. Also its relation with diabetes and the need for palliative surgery.  1.    There was a report on rising incidence of pancreatic cancer in India. What are the possible reasons? According to SEER database (2008-2012), incidence of the pancreatic cancer is static globally (including India) and incidence in India…

Many of us struggle with sugar cravings. It could be at a party, or when we are depressed, per-menopausal or just bored. Here are some tips in a useful infographic.  Also, see the discussion here  Read about PMS related cravings