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DIABETES
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Diabetes is a chronic
condition marked by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Our body
relies
on blood glucose for energy. |
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Blood glucose levels are normally regulated by a hormone called insulin,
which is made
by the pancreas. |
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Insulin stimulates the body's cells to use glucose as energy. When a
person has
diabetes, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, or the
cells don't respond to the
hormone. |
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There are
two main types of diabetes |
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Type 1 (insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus): |
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It is caused by an
autoimmune destruction of insulin-making cells in the pancreas, which
means insulin is no longer made |
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It is one of the most common childhood diseases in developed nations.
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It is one of the most common childhood diseases in developed nations.
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This type of diabetes is also called as
Juvenile Diabetes as children or young adult are mostly get affected
by this. |
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Type 2 (non-insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus) : |
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Caused by either
inadequate levels of insulin or insulin that doesn't work effectively in
the body. |
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Most common after the age
of 40, although the age of onset can be earlier. |
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Often, but not always,
associated with obesity |
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Found in families, but no
specific genes have been found. |
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Responsible for 85 to 90
per cent of all diabetes in developed countries. |
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Symptoms of Diabetes: |
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Extreme tiredness |
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Excessive thirst |
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Excessive appetite |
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Frequent urination |
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Weight loss |
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Irritability |
Blurred vision
sometimes
Occasionally, the onset of diabetes - particularly Type 1 - can be
abrupt. It can lead
to a condition called 'keto acidosis', which is a
medical emergency. The symptoms of
this condition are loss of appetite,
weight loss, vomiting, excessive passing of urine,
altered consciousness
and, finally, coma. |
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Symptoms due to complication may present. |
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Diagnosis
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| Urine sugar:
Sugar in urine may present. |
| Blood sugar:
Blood sugar level done two times Fasting and Post prandial (2 hrs after
eating) |
| Glucose
tolerance test: It is necessary if fasting blood glucose is increased. |
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Complications |
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If untreated, high blood glucose levels can be life threatening. It may
cause |
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Kidney damage |
| Eye damage |
| Nerve damage to feet and other parts of the body |
| Heart disease and circulation problems in the legs |
| Stroke |
| Impotence. |
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Management |
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It depends
on the type of diabetes. The aim of all treatment is to control blood
glucose
levels, blood pressure, and
weight and blood fat levels.
Management include: |
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Healthy Diet: Diet should be
low fat and low carbohydrate. Food intake should divided
in regular
spaced meal |
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Avoiding
alcohol and smoking.
Regular exercise: It can help to maintain blood
glucose level as well as weight.
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Gestational diabetes |
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Gestational diabetes is
diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. |
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Between 3 per cent and 8 per cent of pregnant women will develop
gestational
diabetes at week 24 to week 28 of pregnancy. |
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Woman may know about
diabetes during pregnancy while routine blood test . |
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Some women with diabetes may have special
complaints like recurrence urinary
infection along with excessive
urination |
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Dryness or itching in vagina |
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High risk groups |
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Women over 30 years of age |
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Women who are overweight or obese |
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Women with a history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. |
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How does gestational
diabetes develop? |
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placenta produces hormones that help the baby to grow and develop, but
these
hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin. This is
called insulin resistance.
As the pregnancy progresses, the mother's energy needs increase. The
body needs
insulin so that glucose can get from the bloodstream into the
cells where it can be used
for energy. However, because a woman's energy
needs are higher during pregnancy,
her insulin needs are also higher
than normal.
When the pregnancy is over and the need for insulin returns to normal,
the diabetes
usually disappears.
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Effects on the baby |
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Glucose cross the placenta
because it is required to meet the energy needs of the
developing baby.
If the mother's blood glucose levels are raised, a greater amount of
glucose crosses the placenta to the baby. To cope with the higher
levels
of glucose
the baby produces more insulin, which promotes excessive
growth and fat.
If the mother's blood glucose levels remain raised, the baby can be
larger than normal
and may need to be delivered early. Following
delivery a baby may experience low blood
sugar, particularly if the
mother's blood glucose levels have been elevated before birth.
The
mother's condition can be monitored and treated.
When gestational
diabetes is well controlled, these risks are greatly reduced.
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Treatment of Gestational Diabetes |
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Diet –Appropriate for
pregnancy, including foods rich in calcium, iron and folic acid. Diet
should be low in fat (particularly saturated fats) and high in fibre.
Carbohydrates, such
as grains, cereals, fruits, pasta and rice, should
be eaten in moderate mount.
Physical activity –
Regular safe physical activity like walking helps to keep fit
and prepares for the birth of baby. This will also help insulin to control
blood glucose
levels more effectively
Monitoring blood
glucose levels – Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is
essential
so that treatment can be assessed and changed as necessary. Insulin
injections may be needed to help bring the glucose level into the normal range. Blood
glucose lowering tablets are not used in pregnancy.
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Hypoglycaemia |
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If a person with IDDM skips a meal, exercises heavily or
takes too much insulin, their blood sugar levels may drop. This leads to
a Hypoglycaemia. The symptoms include
dizziness, sweating, hunger,
headache and change in mood. This can be remedied with
a quick boost of
sugar .
A person with IDDM should
ideally have some sweet thing on hand at all times, just in
case of Hypoglycaemia
he has to take it at once. |
Homoeopathic treatment
for diabetes:
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PHOS-ACID:
Diabetes, great exhaustion & burning after micturition. Frequent
urination at night.
SYZYJEUM JAMBOLANUM: It is very specific for diabetes. Great
thirst &weakness,
emaciation is marked.
URANIUM-NIT: Diabetes with very acidic urine, great burning in
urethra. Copious
urination. Great emaciation
and debility.
LYCOPODIUM: Polyuria during the night. Best adapted to persons
intellectually keen,
but of weak muscular power Excessive hunger.
Emaciation marked
GYMNEMA SYL: Dryness of
mouth, thirst increased; frequent urination at night; urine
profuse;
weakness after passing urine; general debility;pruritus vulvae without eruptions. |
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(NOTE: The above
given information about medicine is just for information, patient
should
not take medicines by own as homoeopathy believes in individualization
and
medicine & dose changes for each person) |
