Diabetes is not a single disease but a metabolic disorder that occurs when you are in a state of hyperglycaemia, i.e. when blood sugar/glucose is consistently too high. Its prevalence is increasing rapidly and India is deemed as the world’s capital for the same. Noted diabetologist and epidemiologist P. Zimmet has termed the process leading to the epidemic of diabetes in developing countries as “Coca Colonization”. Thus, urbanisation may be good for the economy but it is a threat to the civilisation.
Regardless of the varied underlying aetiology, diabetes progresses through several clinical stages. Persons developing the disease can be categorised according to the clinical stages and other characteristics.
The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes (that only occurs during pregnancy). It is characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrates, fats and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, action or both.
The effects are long term damage, dysfunction, failure of various organs especially the eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels. The main symptoms are the triad of polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia (the three Ps of diabetes), along with blurring of vision, slow wound healing and in the most severe cases, ketoacidosis, which can be fatal.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented as its etiology is autoimmune, but a healthy lifestyle can help prevent and/or treat pre-diabetes, type -2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
How can an individual manage diabetes?
The management of diabetes revolves around four cornerstones:
- Dietary modification — meal planning, eating healthy food , avoiding oily and processed foods.
- Moderate aerobic activities — to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and obesity, which would lead to an improvement in metabolic control, reduction in body weight and lowering blood sugar levels.
- Patient awareness and education — A full body work-up done annually including FBS, PPBS, HbA1c to rule out diabetes, all the more important if an individual has a familial history of diabetes.
- Medications as advised by the physician.
Diabetes not only impacts physical health but also impacts mental well-being. This World Diabetes Day, observed on the 14th November, the theme is “Diabetes and Well-being” for the year 2024-26.
With appropriate access, awareness to care and support for their well-being, everyone with diabetes has the choice to live well and start the change for a better living.
