World Diabetes Day 14 November 2015
Diabetes by Country
How when the facts say that?
Africa: In Africa, more than two thirds of
people with diabetes are undiagnosed
Europe: Europe has the highest prevalence of
children with type 1 diabetes
Middle
East & North Africa: Four out
of ten adults with diabetes in the Middle-East and North Africa are
undiagnosed
North
America and Caribbean: One adult
in eight has diabetes in the North America and Caribbean region
South
& Central America: By 2040,
the number of people with diabetes will increase by 65% in South and Central
America
South-East
Asia: One quarter of all births
are affected by high blood glucose during pregnancy in South-East Asia
Western Pacific: 37% of all adults with
diabetes live in the Western Pacific region
Diabetes
is an emerging silent killer worldwide. It is growing alarmingly in India, home
to more than 65 million people with the disease, compared to 50.8 million in
2010. World Health Organisations
(WHO) projects that diabetes
will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. The prevalence of diabetes for
all age-groups worldwide was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and 4.4% in 2030. The
number of people with diabetes is increasing due to population growth, aging,
urbanisation, and increasing the prevalence of obesity and physical
inactivity.
According
to statistics from International Diabetes Federation, India Chapter, around
65.1 million people are affected with diabetes compared to 50.8 million in
2010. It is expected to reach around Being overweight, physically inactive and
eating the wrong foods all contribute to the risk of developing type 2
diabetes. If you are overweight or obese, you are at greater risk of developing
type 2 diabetes, alterations of hormones such as leptin, cortisol, adiponectin
involved in food intake It is important to check these hormones if you are
obese or overweight. Obesity appears to be spreading across India in part
at least as a result of processed Western food. India’s economic boom has been
accompanied by a meteoric increase in the number of people with diabetes.
There
are three types of diabetes:
1.
Type 1 Diabetes/ Juvenile Diabetes -
The
body does not produce insulin. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type
1. Juvenile Diabetes which is also known as Type 1 Diabetes or
Insulin-Dependent Diabetes is a commonly diagnosed disorder among children. A
healthy eating plan, adequate exercise, and insulin intake can lead a normal
life.
2.
Type 2 Diabetes -
In
type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly. This is called
insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for
it. But, over time it isn't able to keep up and can't make enough insulin to
keep your blood glucose at
normal levels. Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this
type. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity. Healthy
diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding
tobacco use can prevent or delay
3.
Gestational Diabetes -
This
type affects females during pregnancy, usually around the 24th week – many
women develop gestational diabetes. When you have gestational diabetes, your
pancreas work overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your
blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and
other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving
the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make
extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Expectant moms can help control
gestational diabetes by eating healthy foods, exercising and, if necessary,
taking medication. Controlling blood sugar can prevent a
difficult birth and keep you and your baby healthy.
 |
| The Facts about Diabetes |
Type
1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common pediatric endocrine
illnesses. Of these, over half are living in developing nations, with India
being home to an estimated 97,700 children with T1DM. Juvenile Diabetes disturbs
the immune system by destroying the body’s Beta cells which produce Insulin.
With over one million Juvenile Diabetic children in India, there are 12,000
children who die every year due to this malady1. In 2014, 9% of adults 18 years
and older had diabetes.
Except
for its genetic nature, other causes of the Juvenile Diabetes are unknown.
There is no permanent cure for Juvenile Diabetes. It can only be controlled by
daily intake of insulin. It has been observed an increase in the number of
juvenile cases over the years. In addition to frequent monitoring of blood
glucose, a Juvenile Diabetic child also requires regular checks for various
tissue related complications. Emphasis on the diet, calorie counting, regular
physical activity, injection technique and sick day management is essential to
keep Juvenile Diabetes under control.
With
type 1 diabetes, the symptoms usually happen quickly, in a matter of days or a
few weeks. They're much more severe, too. The most common diabetes symptoms
include frequent urination, intense thirst, and hunger, weight gain, unusual
weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal male sexual
dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet. It is advisable to get
your blood & urine checks done immediately if you suffer from any of the
above symptoms.
Treatment
for all types of diabetes is available. Diabetes type 1 lasts a lifetime, there
is no known cure. Type 2 usually lasts a lifetime; however, some people have
managed to get rid of their symptoms without medication, through a combination
of exercise, diet and body weight control. If diabetes is not adequately
controlled the patient has a significantly higher risk of developing
complications related to cardiovascular diseases, neurological problems and
many more.
Even
if the prevalence of obesity remains stable until 2030, which seems unlikely,
it is anticipated that the number of people with diabetes will more than double
as a consequence of population Diabetes is a lifelong condition and requires
regular monitoring. People with diabetes are susceptible to kidney dysfunction,
cardiovascular diseases, neurological problems and much more. Hence, Diabetics
need to undergo regular tests and monitoring to ensure that all their vital
parameters are normal. A concerted initiative is required to address the
diabetes epidemic.
The
Author, Dr. Rucha Mehta, is the Head of Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes,
Obesity and Metabolism at Global Hospitals, Mumbai
