63 million people are suffering from diabetes in India

THT, Nov 13: In spite of so much advancement care, we are still far from perfection. Our body handles glucose level in a very efficient manner keeping it in normal range all the time and without much fluctuation. This is done by releasing insulin in response to glucose level. Continuous glucose monitoring system and insulin pump therapy is an under utilised tool. These are not necessarily required in all diabetes patients.

Continuous glucose monitoring system gives us blood glucose levels every 5 to 15 minutes and helps us calculate dose of insulin, prevent fluctuations in glucose levels and anticipate hypoglycemia.

Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. The person’s fat, liver and muscles cells do not respond correctly to insulin and thereby blood sugar does not get into these cells to be stored for energy. According to International Diabetes Federation, 371 million people in the world suffer from diabetes and out of them with 63 million are from India, making our country the diabetic capital of the world (it ranks 2nd at present). The prevalence of diabetes In India has increased to 12-18% in urban India and 3-6% in rural India.

There are two major types of diabetes — called Type 1 and Type 2. Previously known as Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the body cannot produce insulin. Prevalent in children and young adults, they are entirely dependent on injections of insulin for survival. In type 2 diabetes or adult onset of diabetes, patients can still produce insulin, but do so relatively inadequately for their body’s needs. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs slowly over time.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms may seem subtle at first. Some of the common symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability. In addition some of the symptoms that are predominant of type 2 diabetes include-frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts/ bruises that are slow to heal, tingling/ numbness in the hands/feet, recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

Family history and genes play a large role in type 2 diabetes.

If diabetes is left uncontrolled, it can lead to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease. It is important to diagnose diabetes early before complications develop. Once diagnosed, a treatment plan with diet, exercise, medication and self-monitoring of blood glucose will prevent long term complications

MANAGING DIABETES - THE CGMS WAY!

To successfully manage diabetes, a monitoring system is needed to consistently check your glucose levels. The most common glucose monitoring solutions are blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. CGM is a way to measure glucose levels in real time throughout day and night.

CGM is especially beneficial for people who have very high glucose levels, aged, have frequent low glucose levels or are unaware of their low blood sugar, are pregnant or thinking of conceving, Type 1 diabetes patients.

INSULIN PUMP THERAPY

Insulin pump is a small mechanical device that is worn outside the body, often on a belt or kept discreetly in a pocket. The pump delivers insulin directly into the body through a soft, flexible cannula under the skin. Patients generally refill their pump with insulin every 2 to 3 days. Insulin pumps are being more commonly used because of their unique ability to continuously infuse insulin, closely mimicking the behavior of physiological secretion from normal pancreas.