Many diseases arise due to deficiency or excess of hormones or secretions produced by the endocrine glands of the body such as diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, height related problems, unwanted hair growth etc. Diabetes or diabetes mellitus disease occurs due to deficiency of a hormone called insulin or its reduced efficiency. According to a survey of the World Health Organization, in the year 2025, India will have the highest number of diabetic patients in the world i.e. 5 crore, 70 lakh. This disease is being prevented from increasing in developed countries, but in developing countries, especially in India, it seems to be taking a terrible form like an epidemic. Every year, millions of diabetic patients in the world die prematurely or suddenly, whereas a normal life can be lived by saving these precious years of life. Due to rapid urbanization, problems and stress of modern times, sudden changes in food and lifestyle, and domestication (fast food, Coca-Cola injection), availability of food in abundance and lack of physical labour, diabetes is increasing rapidly in our country these days. In diabetes or sugar disease, glucose in the blood becomes more than normal and besides glucose, metabolism of fats and proteins is also affected. This disease can occur at any age. More than 95 percent of the patients in India are adults. Main symptoms:
- Weight loss.
- Excessive hunger, thirst and urination.
- Fatigue, pain in the calves.
- Frequent infections or delayed wound healing.
- Tingling, numbness or burning sensation in hands and feet.
- Impotence.
Some people are more likely to get diabetes, such as obese people, people with diabetes in their family or lineage, high blood pressure patients, people who do little or no exercise or physical labour, urban people are more likely to get diabetes than rural people. Deformities of diabetes: This disease affects every part of the body, sometimes the disease is diagnosed only when the deformity occurs and thus the disease keeps growing silently in the body for years. Some specific long term disorders: Affected organs Symptoms of effects: 1. Eyes Premature cataract formation, glaucoma, retinal damage (retinopathy) and in case of severe damage, blindness. 2. Heart and arteries Heart attack, blood pressure, angina. 3. Kidneys Excessive protein in urine, swelling on face or legs or entire body and finally kidney failure or renal insufficiency. 4. Brain and nervous system Impairment of higher mental functions like memory, loss of sensation, dizziness, impotence (neuropathy), paralysis. Diagnosis: Can be easily done by checking blood glucose. Generally there is no need to get tested by drinking glucose solution. In the initial test, the urine albumin and blood fat should also be estimated. Treatment: Merely reducing the blood glucose is not the complete treatment of diabetes. Appropriate diet and exercise are very important. Some major food items which should be used less. Salt, sugar, jaggery, ghee, oil, milk and milk products, parathas, dry fruits, ice cream, sweets, meat, egg, chocolate, dry coconut Food items which should be eaten more Green vegetables, cucumber, tomato, onion, garlic, lemon and common chilli spices can be used. Potato, rice and fruits can be consumed. Rotis made of jowar, gram and wheat flour (missi roti) are quite useful. Mustard oil should be used along with other oils (soybean, groundnut, sunflower). The time of meals should be fixed as far as possible and one should not remain hungry for a long time. The quantity of food is determined by the doctor by calculating the calories according to the patient's weight and height. Some patients may get some benefit from bitter gourd, fenugreek seeds etc. but depending only on these and not using medicines is futile. The second aspect of treatment is exercise - daily brisk walking for about 20-40 minutes, swimming, cycling etc. but it is necessary to first ensure whether your body is capable of exercising or not. Yoga practice is also useful. Exercise should not be done on an absolutely empty stomach. Appropriate changes in diet and exercise help in controlling blood glucose and body weight and also help in controlling blood pressure. Medicines: The only cure for diabetes in children is regular insulin injection. In adults, tablets and vaccines can be used. It is a myth that once a person starts taking insulin, he will have to take this injection throughout his life. Insulin is the only cure during pregnancy. In developed countries, research is going on for a permanent cure for diabetes and kidney transplantation as well as pancreas transplantation are being done, although it has not yet proved to be so widespread and effective. What precautions should diabetics take: Regular blood glucose, blood fat and blood pressure check. Maintain a balanced weight by eating and exercising as directed. Take as much care of your feet as you take of your face because minor wounds on the feet can quickly turn serious and turn into gangrene, which can result in amputation of the leg. To deal with hypoglycemia, always keep something sweet with you, do not stay hungry for a long time. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Do not use unnecessary medicines. Never stop taking medicines suddenly. The government spends crores of rupees on AIDS, TB, malaria, leprosy etc., which is showing good results. Similarly, there is a need to bring diabetes into the category and deal with it effectively.
