Dr. Manish Agarwal
Diabetologist
Medilink Hospital
Excess sugar in blood is called Diabetes
Food we eat is converted to sugar.
Blood takes the sugar to different body cells.
At the same time, insulin is produced by the pancrease.
Sugar & insulin meet at the cells.
Insulin is the key to the cells – opens the lock and helps glucose enter the cells.
Sugar enters cells and breaks down to give energy.
If there is less insulin or if insulin is less effective, then
Body cells cannot use sugar
Sugar remains in the blood stream and slowly its level rises.
It becomes important to reduce this extra sugar from the blood
Patient ‘s body extract water from the other cells to dilute the sugar and patient urinates
frequently (Polyuria)
Because patients body is losing more liquid substance, frequent thirst is common
(Poly-dipsia- Thirst)
Because body becomes incapable of using sugar from the food, the patient feels like eating
again & again ( Polyphagia- Phage-eat)
Diabetes is not a communicable disease. Staying with other diabetic patients, eating together or having physical
relation does not cause diabetes. It is not infectious like flu. In most cases it is hereditary and those with a history
of this disease in the family are more prone to this disease. Obesity increases the chances, that’s why the following
type of people should be careful & should get the blood sugar level checked regularly.
People with a family history of Diabetes
Obese people
People above 40 years
Normal blood and urine sugar level
Any normal person’s blood sugar level is between 70 to 115 mg/dl. The following chart shows the values of blood
sugar in a normal individual and a diabetic.
Empty stomach
2 hrs after meal
Normal
<100 mg/dl
<140 mg/dl
Pre-Diabetes
100-126 mg/dl
140-200 mg/dl
Diabetes
>126 mg/dl
>200 mg/dl
Reasons for Diabetes
Family history – Chances are more if both parents are diabetic
Over weight
Doing sedentary work
Other reasons for diabetes
Mental stress
Medicines
Pregnancy
Chances increase with increasing age
People having high consumption of fatty substance
Women who have had frequent abortions or given birth to overweight baby
Symptoms of Diabetes
Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
Excessive urine production (polyuria)
Excessive eating (polyphagia)
Weakness
Delayed healing of wound
Itching wound in hands, feet and private parts.
Types of Diabetes
1. Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (I.D.D.M.) or Type I Diabetes
2. Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (N.I.D.D.M.) or Type II Diabetes
Diabetes care score card
Advice
No smoking
1 Point
Normal weight
Exercise 4 hr/week
Diet
Regular check up