Diabetes dilemma
Diabetes is a serious condition .It is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, characterized by elevated fasting blood sugar levels, greatly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and loss of nerve functions.
There has been so much research going on in medical field each day. All the efforts are aimed to improve quality of life, as well as prognosis of disease itself. Most of the work done on controlling infectious diseases has been rewarded with excellent results, as for controlling the infection as well as preventing it by vaccination.
The non- infectious ailments are becoming most difficult to manage. Diabetes is among the stubborn of all. There has been introduction of newer drugs every now and then, each has an improve outlook as for efficacy and lesser side effect. Insulin patch, insulin sprays are already in market in many western countries. although their efficacy is still being under close monitoring.
There are some countries like Canada and United states, where pancreatic cell implants have been done with encouraging results in animals.but as far as human application to this method, called stem cell generation is concern ,the use of immunosupressant like steroids has discouraging long term results.Total organ transplants are being done in united states and few other western countries,but there are more in need than the available organ donors. There are hectic efforts being done by research experts and clinical personnels all over the world, to keep mortality to minimum and morbidity as low as possible. Until major advancement is achieved in diabetic treatment, the basic diabetic management pattern will be unchanged. Diet control, mono or multiple drugs, insulin injections, insulin nasal spray (in some part of the world), regular physical exercise and blood sugar monitoring will remain the corner stone of good glycemic control.
The major part of responsibility to maintain a good blood sugar level and live as good a normal life lies on the person effected by diabetes, because he or she is going to have all main meals of the day at home or at the office, so what they will consume in terms of calories will not only determine success of treatment but also how much diabetic complications are avoided. Sadly in most cases this target is not achieved. The three basic reasons for such an obstacle are:-
(a) failure of drug compliance
(b) lack of will to adhere to diet regime advised clearly by physician
(c) sedentary life style or lack of regular physical exercise
The last two are the cornerstones of keeping a diabetic in good health and avoiding all the related complications. The complications can be:
(1) hypoglycemia
Diabetes is a serious condition .It is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, characterized by elevated fasting blood sugar levels, greatly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and loss of nerve functions.
There has been so much research going on in medical field each day. All the efforts are aimed to improve quality of life, as well as prognosis of disease itself. Most of the work done on controlling infectious diseases has been rewarded with excellent results, as for controlling the infection as well as preventing it by vaccination.
The non- infectious ailments are becoming most difficult to manage. Diabetes is among the stubborn of all. There has been introduction of newer drugs every now and then, each has an improve outlook as for efficacy and lesser side effect. Insulin patch, insulin sprays are already in market in many western countries. although their efficacy is still being under close monitoring.
There are some countries like Canada and United states, where pancreatic cell implants have been done with encouraging results in animals.but as far as human application to this method, called stem cell generation is concern ,the use of immunosupressant like steroids has discouraging long term results.Total organ transplants are being done in united states and few other western countries,but there are more in need than the available organ donors. There are hectic efforts being done by research experts and clinical personnels all over the world, to keep mortality to minimum and morbidity as low as possible. Until major advancement is achieved in diabetic treatment, the basic diabetic management pattern will be unchanged. Diet control, mono or multiple drugs, insulin injections, insulin nasal spray (in some part of the world), regular physical exercise and blood sugar monitoring will remain the corner stone of good glycemic control.
The major part of responsibility to maintain a good blood sugar level and live as good a normal life lies on the person effected by diabetes, because he or she is going to have all main meals of the day at home or at the office, so what they will consume in terms of calories will not only determine success of treatment but also how much diabetic complications are avoided. Sadly in most cases this target is not achieved. The three basic reasons for such an obstacle are:-
(a) failure of drug compliance
(b) lack of will to adhere to diet regime advised clearly by physician
(c) sedentary life style or lack of regular physical exercise
The last two are the cornerstones of keeping a diabetic in good health and avoiding all the related complications. The complications can be:
(1) hypoglycemia
(2) diabetic coma
(3) diabetic nephropathy seriously damaging kidney functions, to the extent of needing renal transplantation.
(4) cataract
(5) neuropathy
(6) retinopathy
(7) skin ulcers and gangrene leading to amputation
(8) stubborn skin infections
(9) life threatening heart diseases.
Although as mentioned, a diabetic usually lacks the motivation and will to adopt restriction on his diet which becomes the very root cause of his complication later, but the physician cannot give up guiding and advising him about the best way to control blood sugar as normal as possible and lead a healthy life.
Following are basic and simple guidelines :
(a) Meals composed of complex carbohydrates are rich in fiber, which are slower to get absorbed and therefore provide a much slower and gradual increase in blood sugar level, giving time to limited availability of insulin to be effective.
(b) Small, frequent meals through out the day, rather than full regular meals.
(c) Intake of vegetables and fruits of low sugar content.
(d) Adopt a regular physical exercise pattern 2 ½hrs of total weekly duration. Exercise not only burns the calories, it also brings down blood sugar levels, increases tissue chromium thus in turn increases number of insulin receptors thereby enhancing effects of insulin to bring down raised sugar to control levels.
(e) Obesity is strongly associated with diabetes type 2,weight control is an important element in diabetic management. If you want to loose weight to control diabetes, high blood pressure and risk of heart diseases, then walk, walk and walk some more.
Oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injection don’t cure diabetes. The key word is HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through diet, exercise, certain herbs and supplements.
Although as mentioned, a diabetic usually lacks the motivation and will to adopt restriction on his diet which becomes the very root cause of his complication later, but the physician cannot give up guiding and advising him about the best way to control blood sugar as normal as possible and lead a healthy life.
Following are basic and simple guidelines :
(a) Meals composed of complex carbohydrates are rich in fiber, which are slower to get absorbed and therefore provide a much slower and gradual increase in blood sugar level, giving time to limited availability of insulin to be effective.
(b) Small, frequent meals through out the day, rather than full regular meals.
(c) Intake of vegetables and fruits of low sugar content.
(d) Adopt a regular physical exercise pattern 2 ½hrs of total weekly duration. Exercise not only burns the calories, it also brings down blood sugar levels, increases tissue chromium thus in turn increases number of insulin receptors thereby enhancing effects of insulin to bring down raised sugar to control levels.
(e) Obesity is strongly associated with diabetes type 2,weight control is an important element in diabetic management. If you want to loose weight to control diabetes, high blood pressure and risk of heart diseases, then walk, walk and walk some more.
Oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injection don’t cure diabetes. The key word is HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through diet, exercise, certain herbs and supplements.
For more info, visit the following website: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/chapter7.asp
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