Newsletter, November 2014

World Diabetes Day

14 November 2014
 Newsletter, November 2014

Slice Diabetes
What is Diabetes?

DIABETES mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no
longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat
pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are
broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells. Not being able to
produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised Glucose Levels in the blood. Over the long-
term High Glucose Levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and
tissues.

What are the different types of Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes. It is usually caused

by an auto-immune reaction where the body’s defence system attacks the
cells that produce insulin. The reason this occurs is not fully understood.
People with Type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. The disease may
affect people of any age, but usually develops in children or young adults.
People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order
to control the levels of glucose in their blood. If people with type 1 diabetes
do not have access to insulin, they will die.

Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes or

adult-onset diabetes, and accounts for at least 90% of all cases of diabetes.
It is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, either
or both of which may be present at the time diabetes is diagnosed. The
diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age. Type 2 diabetes may remain
undetected for many years and the diagnosis is often made when a
complication appears or a routine blood or urine glucose test is done. It is often
, but not always, associated with overweight or obesity, which itself can cause
insulin resistance and lead to High Blood Glucose Levels. People with Type 2
diabetes can often initially manage their condition through exercise and diet.
However, over time most people will require oral drugs and or insulin.

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Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a form of diabetes consisting of high blood glucose levels during
pregnancy. It develops in one in 25 pregnancies worldwide and is associated with complications to
both mother and baby. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women with GDM and their
children are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Approximately half of
women with a history of GDM go on to develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years after delivery.
Other specific TYPES OF DIABETES also exist.

COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES

People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a

number of serious health problems. Consistently High Blood
Glucose Levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart
and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth. In addition,
people with Diabetes also have a higher risk of developing
infections. In almost all high-income countries, diabetes is a
leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney
failure, and lower limb amputation.

RISK FACTORS

The risk factors for Type 1 diabetes are still being researched. However, having a family member with
Type 1 diabetes slightly increases the risk of developing the disease. Environmental factors and
exposure to some viral infections have also been linked to the risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes.

Several risk factors have been associated with Type 2 diabetes and include:

 Family history of Diabetes

 Overweight
 Unhealthy diet
 Physical inactivity
 Increasing age
 High blood pressure
 Ethnicity
 Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
 History of gestational Diabetes
 Poor nutrition during pregnancy

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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

Individuals can experience different signs and symptoms of Diabetes, and sometimes there may be
no signs. Some of the signs commonly experienced include:
 Frequent Urination
 Excessive thirst
 Increased hunger
 Weight Loss
 Tiredness
 Lack of interest and concentration
 A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet
 Blurred vision
 Frequent infections
 Slow-healing wounds
 Vomiting and Stomach Pain (often mistaken as the flu)
If you show these signs and symptoms, consult a health professional.

PREVENTION

At present, Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. The environmental triggers that are thought to
generate the process that results in the destruction of the body’s insulin-producing cells are still
under investigation.
There is a lot of evidence that lifestyle changes (achieving a healthy Body Weight and moderate
physical activity) can help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes. Weight
Loss improves insulin resistance and reduces hypertension. Increased physical activity is important in
maintaining Weight Loss and is linked to reduced blood pressure, reduced resting heart rate,
increased insulin sensitivity, improved body composition and psychological well-being.
A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for health. A Healthy Diet reduces risk factors for
cardiovascular diseases

Other behaviours to consider include:

Smoking: a well-established risk factor for many chronic diseases, including diabetes and
its complications.
Stress and depression: There is evidence of a link between depression and both diabetes and
cardiovascular disease.
Sleeping patterns: Both short (<6h) and long (>9h) sleep durations may be associated with a higher
risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

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Diabetes is a condition that makes it hard for your body to turn
the food you eat into energy. It is very important for a diabetic to
follow a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet in order to avoid
further complications.

Below is a sample diet plan for diabetes patients:

Meal/Time Menu Quantity

Early morning Nuts:

Almonds 6-7
Walnuts 1-2

Breakfast Oat flakes +Milk 1 bowl

Egg sandwich(multigrain bread)/ 2 slices
Vegetable oats + Milk 1 bowl and 1 glass
Vegetable stuffed roti + Curd/ 1 and ½ bowl
Besan cheela + Toast 2

Mid morning Fruits: Papaya 1 bowl

Buttermilk/Coconut water 1 glass

Lunch Chapatis/Brown rice 1-2/1 bowl

Vegetable + 1 bowl
Curd/Dal/Paneer/Chicken 1 bowl
+ Salad 1 bowl

Evening Fruit 1
Roasted channa & murmura chat / 1 bowl
Vegetable Idli / Dhokla 2-3

Dinner Vegetable soup 1 bowl

Chapati 1
Vegetable 1 bowl
Dal/ Chicken 1 bowl
Green Salad 1 bowl

Bed Time Milk 1 glass

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