Diabetes is not simply an increase in blood sugar. The consequences of increased blood sugar are catastrophic. Heart diseases , stroke,Blood vessel diseases , Eye diseases, Kidney diseases, Nerve diseases and even skin diseases are there as a part of Diabetes. All because of high level of blood sugar. Most of the time the complications are due to poor and irregular treatment.Diabetes runs in families. If mother is diabetic the children have chance to develop diabetes. If father also is diabetic the chances are more. Heredity and family has a major role in Diabetes. This mandates general awareness of Diabetes in the population. It is there in epidemic proportion. Diabetes education at school level is an important recommendation of WHO. Check your blood sugar early enough,as adult type diabetes is seen even in school children. Do it at the age of 20 if not earlier and in every year. In some cases may be following an infection. It may due to medicines used for someillnesses. In all cases it is proneness to diabetes for Indians has to be be overemphasised.
Heart attack risk is 3 times more in Diabetics. Chance for blindness 10 times more. Limp amputations 20 times more. Second commonest cause for kidney disease. Impotency, rate of hospital admission are more in diabetics. .
Any amount of information is available to diabetics today. Some are benefited from it and some others are not. Compared to other disease a personalised service is essential in diabetes care. Self-care is equally important as it is a lifelong disease. Day to day management has to be done proficiently by the diabetic. An understanding of a broad outline of management is helpful.
These include: