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  • 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
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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.

 

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  • Best Exercises for Diabetes Management
    Consulting Physiotherapist Nikita Morwal Kataria at Chellaram Hospital Diabetes Care and Multispeciality, Pune highlights the benefits of exercise for diabetes and helps you identify exercises good for diabetes management. In today’s chaotic world, it has been seen that increased sedentary behaviour greatly affects the health outcomes such as risk of obesity rates rising, lowered cardiorespiratory fitness and lowered insulin sensitivity in young people especially aged between 11-18 years old.…
  • Diabetes Terms Explained
    As you learn to navigate and manage diabetes, you will come across new terms. PatientsEngage has compiled an easy reckoner in alphabetical order to help you understand the terms associated with diabetes.  If you don't find the term you are looking for, please you leave a comment below or send us a note through contact us and we will update this content.       Beta cells Beta cells are found in the pancreas, as part of clusters called islets. They are…
  • Profile pic of Author Anjana with the cover of her book
    Stay Positive, Supportive And Calm When Parenting Child With Diabetes
    Anjana Tripathi was shocked to find her daughter diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at an early age of 14. Their world underwent a sea change trying to adjust to the needs of the condition. She shares here all the challenges that they as a family navigated. Anjana has even encapsulated her experiences in a rather well researched book. Please tell us about your daughter’s condition. When was she diagnosed? How old was she? My daughter deals on a daily basis with the chronic autoimmune disorder…
  • Eating Plan- Powerful Tool for Managing Diabetes
    Rima Rao, Registered Dietitian explains the basic tenets of a wholesome diet to manage diabetes, using the Diabetes Plate Method. She also addresses the topic of when and how much fruit a person with diabetes can consume.  "What should I eat?" is a typical question that people with diabetes ask. There is, however, no such thing as a “Diabetes Diet.” Some things that you can do include changing how you cook, how much you eat, when you eat it and what you cook with. When it comes to…
  • Travel Tips for Persons with Diabetes
    People with diabetes can travel safely and comfortably. They just need to follow a few travel guidelines. These tips have been curated based on inputs from experiences of frequent travelers with diabetes and vetted by Dr. Shital Patel. To begin with, it is important to note that diabetes related supplies are allowed on the plane.  Carry medications in hand luggage and in original packaging.  Insulin & insulin pens, alcohol swabs and unlimited numbers of unused syringes  …
  • An image with a hand crushing cigarette butts on the left and hands holding a heart to indicate how quitting tobacco saves the heart
    How Quitting Tobacco Improves Heart Health
    Tobacco increases risk of multiple heart diseases. But people who quit tobacco reduce their risk of dying from a heart disease significantly. Read more to understand the consequences of tobacco consumption and the benefits of quitting tobacco. Tobacco can affect the heart and the entire cardiovascular system including the blood vessels. According to the WHO and World Heart Federation, 1.9 million people die from tobacco-related heart diseases every year. Even occasional intake of tobacco and…
  • Patient Rekha on her diabetic retinopathy lived experience
    Never Neglect Eye Problems
    Rekha Khanduri, 73 from Mumbai has diabetes for a while and lost her eyesight due to diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes related complication. She talks about how she has since learnt to live with such an irreparable loss. Please tell us a bit about your condition : I have Blood Pressure as well as diabetes. In fact, I lost my left eye due to diabetes. When were you diagnosed with diabetes? About 35 years back. Diabetes runs in the family as both my grandfathers had it. My paternal grandfather had…
  • Thumbnail in green with text on blue strip: Can excess salt, sugar and junk food cause kidney disease in children
    Dangers Of Excess Salt, Sugar and Junk Food On Children's Health
    A panel discussion with Dr Rajan Ravichandran and Dr Arun Gupta highlighted the need for better product labeling and regulatory changes around advertising and marketing of processed foods. For parents to be aware of the link of salt, sugar and ultra processed foods with diabetes, hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease in children. (Video below) Participants: Dr Rajan Ravichandran – Senior Nephrologist (RR) Dr Arun Gupta – Pediatrician (AG) Aparna Mittal, Founder , PatientsEngage (AM)  …
  • Managing Diabetes And A Hamstring Injury
    Dr. R.Asha Rajini, 66 from Chennai loves running marathons. A hamstring injury upset her rhythm and affected her physical and mental health, especially  diabetic control. She talks about the challenges of dealing with this setback and the lessons she learnt in the process of recovery  I was doing very well in my running training, almost every Sunday I was running about 21 to 25kms as I was getting ready to run a 50km Ultra in November 21. On August 13th I went to the gym to strengthen…
  • Image Description: An elderly person with a walker and supported by a caregiver
    बुजुर्गों में अकसर दिखने वाले ऐसे 12 लक्षण जो गंभीरता से लेने चाहियें
    वजन का बेवजह घटना, याददाश्त की समस्याएँ, कमजोरी और गहरी थकान जैसे लक्षणों को "सामान्य उम्र बढ़ने" की प्रक्रिया न समझें - ये किसी गंभीर समस्या का संकेत हो सकते हैं । इस लेख में डॉ शीतल रावल ऐसे 12  लक्षणों के बारे में बता रही हैं जो बुजुर्गों में अकसर पाए जाते हैं पर जिन्हें अनदेखा करने के बजाय आपको डॉक्टर की राय लेनी चाहिए।  वही लक्षण जो एक युवा व्यक्ति में एक कारण से हो सकते हैं वे बुजुर्गों में दूसरे कारणों से हो सकते हैं।  युवा व्यक्ति में शायद वे इतने गंभीर न हों, पर बुज़ुर्ग…