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Diabetes

About Diabetes

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What is Diabetes?

What is Diabetes?
 
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by abnormally high levels of blood glucose (blood sugar). In people suffering from diabetes, the body is unable to properly process food for use as energy. Let's put it this way - most of the food we eat turns into glucose or sugar, which our body uses for energy. The pancreas makes a hormone called 'insulin' to help glucose penetrate into the cells of the body. At times, the body doesn't make enough or any insulin. As a result, the glucose (or sugar) stays in the blood and over time causes health problems. This is why many people refer to diabetes as “sugar”.
 
What is borderline diabetes?
 
The term borderline diabetes indicates that a person does not really have diabetes, but a milder version of the disease, which can turn into full-blown diabetes if precautions are not taken.
 
What are the types of diabetes?
 
There are two types of diabetes: Type-1 and Type-2
 
Type-1 diabetes explained:
 
Type-1 diabetes was earlier known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In people suffering from Type-1diabetes, the body does not make sufficient quantities of insulin. Type-1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with Type-1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to keep going.
 
Autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are the reasons behind Type-1 diabetes.
 
Type-1 accounts for 5-10 per cent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
 
Type-2 diabetes explained:
 
Earlier known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 per cent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It occurs when the body doesn't produce sufficient insulin or when the glucose stays in the blood and the body fails to utilise it as fuel for energy. Type-2 diabetes is often linked to obesity. However, other risk factors include old age, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, family history of diabetes, smoking, etc.
 
Other specific types of diabetes result from specific genetic syndromes, surgeries, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses. They account for only 1 to 2 per cent of those diagnosed with diabetes.
 
What are the early signs of diabetes?
 
Some of the early signs of diabetes include
 
Excessive thirst and hunger, nausea, fatigue, weight gain or loss, frequent urination, darkening of the skin in areas of body creases, numbness in hands and feet, skin infections, etc.
 
Do note that symptoms of diabetes are the same in men and women.
 
What is pre-diabetes?
 
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but a person does not yet have diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at the risk of developing the disease.
 
What is the treatment for diabetes?
 
Although diabetes has no cure, steps can be taken to manage it and stay healthy.
 
Type-1 diabetes can be managed with insulin as well as dietary changes and exercise.
 
Type-2 diabetes can be dealt with non-insulin medication, insulin, weight reduction and dietary changes.

When is World Diabetes Day?
 
November 14 is celebrated as World Diabetes Day in over 170 countries. This day is meant to raise awareness about diabetes.
 
Why India should seriously give attention to diabetes?
 
Over 429 million people across the globe are suffering from diabetes. According to the Indian Medical Association, India has the second-highest diabetes population in the world and are four times more likely to develop the disorder.
 
One person dies every eight seconds because of diabetes and its related diseases, says IMA. The increasing trend of diabetes in India is due to lack of physical activities and healthy living environment.

Latest Updates on Diabetes

Union Minister Jitendra Singh Friday made a strong pitch for the prevention of diabetes in pregnancy to prevent the passing of the health condition to future generations

Updated On: 10 Mar 2023 | 11:16 PM IST

If perfected, such a breakthrough would be a boon to diabetics and help cement Apple as a powerhouse in health care

Updated On: 23 Feb 2023 | 11:54 PM IST

This research, Kwan says, is one piece of the puzzle that will help researchers understand how to prevent metabolic as well as cardiovascular disease risk in the future

Updated On: 19 Feb 2023 | 8:20 PM IST

Drug firm Glenmark said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic medication to treat diabetes in the American market.

Updated On: 17 Feb 2023 | 12:55 PM IST

Omicron has been seen as a milder version of Covid compared with earlier strains, leading to lower rates of hospitalization and death than delta and the strain that first emerged from China

Updated On: 14 Feb 2023 | 10:15 PM IST

Multiple levers are available to improve public health

Updated On: 11 Jan 2023 | 10:41 PM IST

It is priced at Rs 14.90 per day, thereby reducing the daily cost of therapy by 40 per cent, making it more affordable to the masses, the company said in a statement

Updated On: 21 Dec 2022 | 11:32 PM IST

Torrent Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday said it has inked a pact with Boehringer Ingelheim India to co-market diabetes drug and its combinations in the country

Updated On: 14 Dec 2022 | 6:58 PM IST

Artificial intelligence can be used to turn a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) into a potent tool for diabetes monitoring and prevention, suggests researchers at Klick Applied Sciences

Updated On: 04 Dec 2022 | 11:22 PM IST

Drug firm AstraZeneca India said it has received approval from the country's drug regulator to market anti-diabetes medication Dapagliflozin

Updated On: 29 Nov 2022 | 6:03 PM IST

Women of South Asian origin may be more likely to experience gestational diabetes due to the same complex genetics that increases their chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes, according to a study

Updated On: 23 Nov 2022 | 11:07 AM IST

Covid can alter a person's genetic makeup which can enhance the proliferation of disease and cause further deterioration in diabetes and associated heart disease, an Indian-origin researcher revealed

Updated On: 20 Nov 2022 | 12:27 PM IST

Railway Board has given its catering and tourism arm IRCTC the flexibility to customise its menu to include local, regional cuisines as well as food suitable for diabetics, infants, health aficionados

Updated On: 15 Nov 2022 | 7:09 PM IST

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease. If detected late or improperly managed, it can lead to serious and life-threatening damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves

Updated On: 14 Nov 2022 | 4:28 PM IST

On World Diabetes Day, Business Standard spoke with experts to demystify sugar substitutes that have found a way into our diet

Updated On: 14 Nov 2022 | 11:02 AM IST

In the United States, more than 37 million individuals have diabetes, yet many of them don't receive immediate treatment, which can result in expensive or even fatal consequences

Updated On: 06 Nov 2022 | 11:41 PM IST

Scientists have uncovered details of the metabolism of late-night eating associated with weight gain and diabetes, according to a study

Updated On: 24 Oct 2022 | 4:10 PM IST

Around 500 mn people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to physical inactivity, WHO's 'Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022' says

Updated On: 19 Oct 2022 | 10:53 AM IST

A new bandage treatment, known as a scaffold, to treat diabetic foot ulcers, which is cost-effective while improving patient outcomes, has been designed by researchers at Queen's University Belfast

Updated On: 09 Oct 2022 | 8:30 AM IST