Diabetes Mellitus: In need of close care

Diabetes Mellitus, commonly called “Sugar Disease” or “Sukur” in Arabic, is a condition in which there is an increase in blood sugar level, either due to absence or decrease efficacy of insulin hormone.

March 23, 2014

Talat Zaki Hafiz

Dr. M. Shahid Rasheed

Diabetes Mellitus, commonly called “Sugar Disease” or “Sukur” in Arabic, is a condition in which there is an increase in blood sugar level, either due to absence or decrease efficacy of insulin hormone.

Type I Diabetes is present in childhood and Type II is seen in adults. Sometimes also seen in pregnancy and is called as “Gestational Diabetes mellitus”.

According to an estimate about 8% of world’s adult population is suffering from Diabetes. Top ten countries with diabetes are India, China, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Italy and Bangladesh.

The basic factor in causation of Diabetes is our lifestyle as intake of calories is more then we burn. It happens because of sedentary life style and lack of exercise leading to obesity, which makes insulin hormone ineffective. A person has more chances of Diabetes if there is:

Family History of Diabetes; Age above 40 years; High Blood pressure; High bad fats (Triglycerides); Low good fats (HDL); and Fasting sugar between 100-126 mg/dl

A patient of diabetes may not show any symptoms, but the following symptoms may increase the likelihood of diabetes:

Increased thirst; Increased Appetite; Increased Urination; Weight loss; Fatigue; Blurred vision; Pain in legs; and Increased infections
To make diagnosis of diabetes, fasting glucose level should be more than 126 mg/dl or two hours after meal sugar greater than 200 mg/dl.

Diabetes is a disease that affects all parts of body, its major complications are stroke, kidney failure (nephropathy), nerve involvement (neuropathy), eye involvement (retinopathy), high blood pressure, foot involvement, heart disease and joint problems.

To prevent these complications and control sugar, one has to pay regular visit to the physician monthly. The treatment of diabetes is based on diet control, exercise and drug therapy. For each individual management is different.
Diabetes Mellitus can be prevented by:

Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes, three times a week; Only take the amount of calories in diet that can be burned out; Take more vegetables and fruits in diet and avoid sugary sweeteners; beverages (juices, Pepsi, cola etc.) should be avoided; After 40 years of age annually check for FBS, lipids and blood pressure; Quit smoking; and Avoid sedentary life style.

— Dr. M. Shahid Rasheed is an Internist and Diabetologist at My Care Medical Centre


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