India is the diabetes capital of the world and today- 14th November is the World Diabetes Day.
It is a chronic condition affecting millions of people across the globe. So, as an awareness I am sharing a short summary about it.

Diabetes is a few diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin.

Types of Diabetes?

The two main types are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

• Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease accounts for 5 to 10 out of 100 people who have diabetes. The immune system destroys the cells that release insulin (a hormone that allow sugar to enter cells so that they can use it for energy). People suffering with Type 1 need to take insulin injections.

• Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disease and is the most common type among people. In this case, the body can’t use insulin properly which leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Type 2 commonly caused by environmental, genetic, old age and even due to lifestyle issues like obesity.

What are the alarming signs?

Sometimes type 2 diabetes can develop without any warnings signs so it’s always better to undergo health check-up at least once in 3 months for old age or once in a year for adults.

Common warnings signs of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination or urine infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Headaches

What is the most common tests?

It’s advisable to undergo check-up once in 3months so that early detection leads to early treatments.

• Haemoglobin A1c Test ( HbA1c ) depicts your average blood sugar level for the past 3 months.
• Fasting blood sugar test – taken blood after you have not eaten overnight usually for 8-12 hours.
• Random blood sugar test- taken blood at any time no matter when u last ate.

Can lifestyle management prevent or affects Diabetes?

Yes, maintaining healthy weight with healthy diet and proper exercise- Just 30mins of your daily time can give you disease free life.

This food pyramid reflects the balanced diet for a healthy life.Follow this chart for a healthy “You” !

*Disclaimer – The content in this post is purely meant for educational purpose only and not meant to be a replacement for a doctor consultation, nor is it a medical recommendation or prescription of treatment.

*Image courtesy – Pinterest, American food pyramid