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Millions are diagnosed with diabetes every year. It is a serious medical condition to be addressed!
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the glucose or blood sugar in the body is too high. The source of this blood sugar is the food we eat and it is the main source of energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas carries this sugar and feeds all the cells in the body.
A person happens to be in diabetes when the body has low insulin to carry the sugar to the cells. When left without treated, blood sugar can grow in quantity and lead to other major health issues like heart disease, heart stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss.
Modern science has brought in many best diabetic hospitals in coimbatore like Karpagam Hospitals to provide various diabetes treatment options. Obtaining them can help to manage the blood sugar levels and eliminate any major health complications. However, a patient has to take medications all life, as there is no complete cure for diabetes.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
It is known to be an autoimmune condition. In an autoimmune condition, a person’s immune system attacks the beta cells of one’s own pancreas. It poses a permanent damage to the system. This type of condition can be the cause of either genetic or environmental reasons.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes kicks in due to insulin resistance. This simply means, the body is not able to make use of insulin properly. So, too much insulin stagnates in the pancreas. Later, the production of insulin reduces causing high glucose in the body. Though the exact reason for this disease is not known, there are three main factors – Genetics / Sedentary life / Obesity.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
All best diabetologists in coimbatore start diabetes diagnosis as per the evaluation of symptoms. The following are some of the basic tests taken to start treatment for diabetes.
- Random Blood Glucose Test: Glucose of 200 mg or above will generally indicate diabetes.
- Fasting Plasma Glucose: Glucose of 126 mg or above confirms diabetes.
- HbA1C test: 6.5 and above confirms diabetes.
- Oral Glucose tolerance test: Glucose of 200 mg and above indicates diabetes.
- Distinguish test ( Type 1 and Type 2) – Urine ketone test / glutamic acid decarboxylase / autoantibodies test. These tests are taken several times for the doctors to arrive at an accurate picture of a person’s blood glucose levels.
Treatment for Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes treatment
Giving the needed insulin for the body is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. As we know, the body will not be able to produce adequate insulin, thus insulin is directly given to the body.
There are different kinds of insulin. It varies based on how fast they can work and how long its effects last.
Rapid Acting Insulin: It will start to work within 5 to minutes of injecting into the body. It can be active for more than 3 hours.
Short acting insulin: It will start within 10 minutes of injecting. The effect can last up to 5 hours.
Intermediate acting insulin: It will start to work within 2 to 4 hours. It can be active for more than 16 hours.
Long acting insulin: This insulin starts to work only after 2 hours. It can last for more than a day.
Ultra long acting insulin: It will start to work only after 6 hours after being injected into the body. It will last for more than 36 hours.
Pre-mixed insulin: It will work after 30 minutes and last for 16 hours. This solution is a mix of both rapid and short acting insulin.
Type 2 diabetes treatment
Doctors recommend patients with Type 2 diabetes a change in their diet and lifestyle. When these changes could not control the condition, medications are recommended. Some of them are below.
- Alpha Glucosidase – This helps in the breakdown of sugars and starchy food.
- Biguanides – Reduce the amount of glucose made in the liver.
- DPP-4 inhibitors – Improve blood sugar.
- Glucagon – Induce the pancreas to make more insulin.
- Meglitinides – Induce the pancreas to make more insulin.
- SGLT2 inhibitors – Helps in releasing more glucose into the urine.
- Sulfonylureas – It stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin.
- Thiazolidinediones – help insulin to work in a much efficient way.
How to prevent diabetes?
It is important to know that only Type 2 diabetes is preventable. This disease is caused by poor lifestyle choices. Thus, adopting a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can help with Type 2 diabetes. A ideal diet would be
- Low in carbs / sugar / fat
- High in fiber/ protein
It is also important to maintain a healthy weight / quit smoking and drinking.
Conclusion
Thus, the above diabetes guide would have helped you understand treatments that aim for proper diabetes management. It stresses the importance of enough self care, healthy lifestyle and ongoing support. With little discipline and control over every choice, living happily by diabetes prevention is possible. Also, do not shy away from reaching the best hospitals in coimbatore and get the required treatment. It can save you from a lot of pain and stress.
