Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects your body’s ability to turn food into energy thereby raising the blood sugar levels , also called hyperglycaemia. In a healthy individual ,the body breaks down the food we eat into sugar(glucose) which is released into the bloodstream. This sugar in your blood signals the pancreas to release insulin which allows the cells to take up this glucose to be converted into energy. In a diabetic, either the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin it makes for energy making purposes. This leads to a raise in  sugar levels in blood .

World diabetes day is celebrated on 14 Nov in order to raise awareness about diabetes ,its prevention ,its long term implications and the impact it has on the health of millions of people worldwide. This day marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting ,who co-discovered insulin in 1921,which is a life-saving treatment for diabetics .Diabetes is one of the fastest growing health challenges globally and World diabetes day reminds us all to make health a priority and support those living with this condition .It serves as a reminder that awareness and early detection can save lives .

High blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia is a silent symptom and  often goes unnoticed for months and maybe even years on end. But uncontrolled diabetes may lead to systemic damage especially to the nerves and blood vessels which may result in end organ damage like kidney failure ,heart attacks, stroke, blindness and lower limb amputation. 

Diabetes has been prevalent since ancient times with references to it found in many ayurvedic texts. Entire chapters have been dedicated to “prameha” in describing its types ,symptoms, treatment and complications. We all may know it as madhumeh which is a sub-type of prameha.

 Diabetes, as we all know it today ,is also divided into 

*Type 1 Diabetes or Diabetes Insipidus or Insulin Dependent diabetes

*Type 2 Diabetes or Diabetes mellitus or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes

*Gestational Diabetes or Pregnancy induced diabetes

Another subtype often described today is pre-diabetes ,wherein the blood sugar levels aren’t very alarming but if not checked in time this condition may lead to full blown diabetes .During this period appropriate lifestyle changes can help bring the blood sugar levels to normal. 

Type 1 diabetes : In this type the immune system itself destroys the insulin producing cells & the insulin production is severely affected. This may be caused by certain genetic and environmental factors.

Type 2 diabetes : Diabetes mellitus is mostly seen in middle-aged & older adults .Here ,although your body produces insulin, but this insulin does not reach your cells. This affects the conversion of glucose to energy and as a result the glucose in your bloodstream increases. Lifestyle factors such as an inactive lifestyle, mental stress, unhealthy dietary habits and  sometimes genetics also play a role as the causative factor in this type of diabetes. 

Gestational Diabetes : Seen only during pregnancy ,it occurs when the body is unable to produce the extra insulin needed during pregnancy. It is generally caused due to hormonal changes seen during pregnancy alongside some lifestyle and genetic factors. 

Most common symptoms of Diabetes

 *Excess thirst and hunger

*Excess urination including more night-time frequency

*Fatigue

*Blurry vision

*Tingling in arms and legs

*Non-healing sores or wounds

*Unexplained weight loss 

A  simple blood test is all that is required to test the blood sugar levels and help diagnose Diabetes.

Diabetes treatment :The only treatment available today for diabetes is managing your blood sugar levels as there is no permanent cure for it .Each sub-type has different treatment options 

Type 1 : this type is also called insulin dependent type as only daily external doses of insulin work as the treatment option here. But along with the insulin intake, lifestyle and dietary modification is also must. 

Type 2 : this type is better managed and in some cases even reversible by having a healthy diet, doing regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight .Anti-diabetic oral medicines are also the treatment option used. 

Gestational Diabetes: This is also treated with oral medications alongside diet & lifestyle modifications .It generally resolves after delivery but may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life. 

Type 1 cannot be prevented but Type 2 and Gestational diabetes can be prevented by following a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, getting adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy body weight .Let’s elaborate on each of these points because as the saying goes ,“prevention is always better than cure” 

Healthy diet :A diet rich in fibre, protein ,whole grains, fruit and vegetables is beneficial. Avoiding intake of  simple carbs like refined flour ,sugars, processed foods like ready -to- eat food packets ,ultraprocessed foods like packaged juices, colas etc and instead taking legumes ,millets ,natural and unprocessed foods can be helpful. Starting your meal with a salad or protein is recommended .Avoiding late night dinner and post-dinner snacking, keeping a strict portion control and lastly maintaining consistency in food timings also helps. 

Physical activity : Any form of exercise for atleast 30 mins per day is the bare minimum required. Exercise helps lower your blood glucose levels by making your cells more sensitive to insulin .Avoid sitting for extended periods ,stand-up  or stretch your body for 1 min after every 1 hour of sitting and stay active during the entire course of your waking moments .

Sleep : Often an ignored aspect ,sleep is equally important to balance your sugar levels. Sleep affects your hormonal balance and therefore the insulin production .Maintain a sleep hygiene , avoid late nights and ensure adequate amount of sleep for  better glyaecemic control. 

Regular check-ups : The importance of regular sugar monitoring cannot be over-emphasized. Keeping tabs on your sugar levels helps push you towards a better lifestyle and in case of diabetics it helps in adjusting their dosages.

 The biggest myth about diabetic medications is that if you are a diabetic and taking anti-diabetic medicines, you need not follow any dietary restrictions .

But in reality, by rectifying your lifestyle, you can try to cutdown or even get-off certain medicines and save yourself from the drug-induced side-effects. 

Recently India has won the not-so-good designation of becoming the "Diabetes Capital" of the world. According to a recent ICMR study,100 million plus population of India is diabetic .This is a 44% rise in just the last 4 years. New studies also link raising pollution levels to increased incidence of diabetes. We as  Asian-Indian race with a higher body fat percentage are more prone to develop type 2 diabetes .But enforcing certain discipline in life will surely help us delay the onset of diabetes if not prevent it totally. 

The need to monitor blood sugar levels and keep your diabetes in check is important as uncontrolled diabetes can  lead to severe complications .Some of them are 

1)Diabetic nephropathy :Here the kidney functioning gets affected and some may even need dialysis.

2)Diabetic retinopathy : Diabetes may affect the retina and eye eventually leading to vision loss.

3)Diabetic neuropathy :Nerve damage due to uncontrolled diabetes often causes tingling ,numbness and loss of sensation. When this happens in the foot, some foot injuries may not heal well and even need  amputation.

4)Heart Attack & stroke : Heart attack in Diabetics  are often painless and can go unnoticed. Also  bleeding  in the brain may be the reason  for a brain stroke and paralysis.

But maintaining your blood HbA1c levels <7% is helpful in reducing the risk of complications .Diabetes is a life-long commitment but with right care and lifestyle changes, diabetics can lead a long ,healthy fruitful life. World Diabetes Day serves as a reminder that healthy living begins with awareness. It encourages people to adopt healthier habits and improve long-term health.

Act early ,live healthy-beat diabetes!