Diabetes has turned pandemic, says Fortis doctor

Why Supplements?: Mohali, November 17 There has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes, many of whom are children, in northern India, said Dr K P Singh, a senior consultant endocrinologist and diabetologist at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.

Detailing the results of an informal study conducted by him, Dr Singh said: “The highest number of diabetes cases (20 per cent) was found in Ludhiana while the lowest incidence of the disease was in Lahaul and Spiti (less than 1 per cent).”

With the urban as well as rural population afflicted with the ailment, the doctor said: “In India, diabetes is not an epidemic anymore — it has turned pandemic.”

According to Dr Singh, the poor spend about 25 per cent of their income on the management of diabetes. Currently, up to 11 per cent of India’s urban population and 3 per cent of the rural population above the age of 15 has diabetes.

“There has been an almost 20 per cent increase in the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes each year.” The factors responsible for the upsurge are: sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, obesity, stress and higher intake of refined cereals as well as high fat and calorie-dense food.

Talking about World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14, Dr Singh said diabetes is a concern the world over. The date also marks the birth anniversary of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921.

“All said and done, diabetes is a very common condition which can cause an early death. Though with better treatment options available nowadays, it can be controlled,” added Dr Singh.

According to the Diabetes Atlas, published by the International Diabetes Federation, there were an estimated 40.9 million diabetics in India in 2007 (about 16.7 per cent of the global number). This figure is predicted to rise to almost 70 million by 2025, making India the diabetic capital of the world.

Taken from www.expressindia.com

Why Supplements?

Diabetes sufferers get younger in New Zealand

Diabetes is attacking young people aged between 12 and 18, according to Diabetes New Zealand.

New estimates indicate 500 young people in the age group have Type 2 diabetes, the disease that was, only a few years ago, virtually unknown in people of that age.

"It used to be a disease that only affected adults over 45 years old, but not any more," Mike Smith, president of Diabetes New Zealand, said yesterday.

Mr Smith said Diabetes Awareness Week, from today until November 24, was a good time for people to think about how they could play a part in reducing the impact the life-threatening disease was having on society.

"It's our own inaction that is allowing Type 2 diabetes to become an epidemic."

While Type 1 diabetes was also on the increase, it was the increased prevalence of Type 2 diabetes which was tied back to lifestyle choices.

The fact it was often preventable made the Type 2 diabetes epidemic even more tragic, he said.

It could often be delayed and possibly prevented by eating less and exercising more.

"Once one person in a family has 'got diabetes', everyone has it, in effect," Mr Smith said. He said there were 180,000 New Zealanders diagnosed with all types of diabetes. There were also 80,000 immediately at risk, having a condition called pre-diabetes, and another 800,000 overweight or obese people in New Zealand who were at longer-term risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The emphasis in this year's Diabetes Awareness Week is on young people and families.

- NZPA

Why Supplements? Diabetes - are you at risk?

What is diabetes? There is type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas either no longer produces insulin or not enough insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes insulin but the body is not able to use it properly.

Why do we need insulin? Insulin helps our cells take in fuel in the form of blood sugar or glucose. Glucose is produced when we digest food. If glucose doesn't get into the cells, it weakens. The glucose then builds up in the blood stream, damaging our blood vessels and organs.

Do you know that globally, diabetes is rated as the 4th largest killer disease?

Do you know that of the 20.8 million people (2005) in the U.S. of all ages have diabetes?

Do you know that every year in the U.S. the incidence of diabetes increases by an astounding 6%, which means 600,000 new cases are added each year?

Bet you, diabetes is a serious ailment! But, how many people know their risks?

If you have any of these symptoms, take a diabetes test immediately:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual hunger
• Extreme fatigue
  
• Irritability
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Slow-to-heal cuts and bruises
• Vaginitis or recurring yeast infections in women
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Recurring skin, gum and bladder infections

You are at risk, if you:

• have a family history of diabetes
• are 20% over a healthy weight or obese
• lead a sedentary life
• had abnormal glucose levels during pregnancy
• had a baby who was 9 pounds or more at birth
• are 45 years old or older
• have low HDL cholesterol or high overall cholesterol
• have high triglyceride levels
• have very high blood pressure

Is there a cure? NO, but with the right treatment and regular monitoring, we can get our blood sugar back to acceptable levels , and we can lead a normal and healthy lifestyle.

Why Supplements? - How Diabetes Affects The Kidneys

If you are a diabetic, do you know that how you manage your diabetes properly can prevent or slow down kidney disease (renal problem)? If you can manage your diabetes well, you will save your kidneys.

The kidneys function to cleanse blood from waste products and excess fluid by filtering blood to produce urine. When the kidneys are unable to filter normally, dangerous accumulation of fluid and wastes occurs in the body which eventually results in kidney failure.

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition where there is insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas or the body is unable to respond to the insulin normally. Blood glucose levels will then rise and cause damage to organs including the kidneys.

Almost all insulin-dependent diabetics have some kidney damage but for most, it does not cause symptoms or problems. The younger the age, the longer the duration, and the less you control your sugar intake, the more likely you are to have diabetic kidney problems. It usually takes 10 to 20 years for diabetic patients with kidney disease to develop kidney failure. You may say that this is a big window of opportunity for kidney failure to be prevented but sad to say, in many instances, diabetes has already been present many years before it is detected, and organ damage may already exist at the time of diagnosis.

Always take the time to seek professional help in diabetes management. Managing your diabetes well can prevent or slow down the progress of your kidney disease, especially if your diabetes was detected early.

Achieve and maintain your targeted blood glucose and blood pressure. High levels of these are the main factors that contribute to kidney damage. Patients with diabetes and kidney disease are at an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, so it is also important to achieve good control of lipid levels, exercise and control weight, as well as stop unhealthy habits such as smoking. The following shows the targets to achieve:

• Blood glucose should maintain at 4.0mmol/L to 6.0 mmol/L (fasting); and less than 7-8 mmol/LL after food. Blood pressure maintains at 130/80 mmHg or lower
• HbA1c: Less than or equal to 6.5%
• LDL Cholesterol: Less than 2.6 mmol/L
• HDL Cholesterol: More than 1.02 mmol/L
• Triglycerides: Less than 1.7 mmol/L
• Blood Pressure: 130/80 mmHg or lower

Don't ever default on your follow-ups visits to the doctor as it can lead to further deterioration of your diabetes and diabetic complications, which include kidney disease. The problem is that complications such as diabetic eye and kidney disease are usually silent until in advanced stages.Because of this lack of early physical signs and symptoms, it is even more important that your visits to your doctor would enable him to monitor your condition and help you control the disease. To screen for kidney complications, the doctor only needs to check your blood pressure and do some simple urine and blood tests. REMEMBER: diabetes has the potential to damage many different organs in your body, not just the kidneys. Regular follow-up helps to protect your heart and blood vessels, brain and nerves, eyes and skin also.

If you are diabetic, you need to watch your diet. Control your carbohydrate and fat intake as well as protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. If you already have kidney damage due to diabetes, controlling what you eat can avoid excessive build-up of wastes in your kidneys since they are not able to function normally.

Chronic kidney disease and diabetes are common and harmful due to our unhealthy lifestyle. However, most importantly, they are treatable, especially when detected early or if you are in a pre-diabetic. It is important for you to work together with your doctor to prevent or manage diabetes appropriately.