Diabetes Mellitus

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This disease is characterized by increased levels of blood sugar due to decreased production of Insulin in the body or due to ineffectiveness of Insulin.

A: Ideally every patient should have a Blood glucose measuring device at home & should measure blood sugar level at least twice a week, both the fasting level & 2-hours after a meal. HbA1c should be measured every third month at least.

Some of the early warning signs of Type I diabetes are: Frequent urination accompanied by unusual thirst*. Extreme hunger* Rapid weight loss with easy tiring, weakness, and fatigue* Irritability, nausea, and vomiting. Some of the early warning signs for Type II diabetes are:* Frequent urination accompanied by unusual thirst* Blurred vision or any change in sight* Tingling or numbness in the legs, feet, or fingers* Frequent skin infection or itchy skin* Slow healing of cuts and bruises* Drowsiness* Vaginitis in women* Erectile dysfunction in men. .

Bilberry helps to prevent Retinopathy developing in people who are afflicted with Diabetes Mellitus

Bitter Melon (unripened) alleviates Diabetes Mellitus (due to its Blood Sugar lowering capabilities.

* Raise carbohydrate intake to more than half of total calories. Every gram of carbohydrate provides four calories.* Keep protein intake to 12 to 20 percent of total calories. A gram of protein provides four calories as well.* Lower fat intake to less than 30 percent of total calories and make every effort to substitute polyunsaturated fat or monounsaturated fat for saturated fat. Each gram of fat provides nine calories, so go easy!* Maintain cholesterol intake at less than 300 milligrams a day. Less saturated fat in the diet will automatically lead to reduced cholesterol.* Include fiber in the diet; it should be part of as many meals as possible.

A common complaint from many people is, "My feet are killing me!" Loss of nerve function, especially on the soles of the feet, can reduce feeling and mask a sore or injury on the foot that, if left unattended, can turn into an ulcer or gangrene. "A person with diabetes must be super cautious about foot care," . Give your feet a thorough going-over every night to make sure that you haven't developed a sore, blister, cut, scrape, or any other tiny problem that could blow up into big trouble. If your vision isn't good, have someone with good eyesight check your feet for you. Wash, rinse, and dry. A clean foot is a healthy foot, with a much lower susceptibility to infection. And clean feet feel better, too. Avoid bathroom surgery. Under normal circumstances, there is little danger from using a pumice stone to reduce a corn or callus. But for a diabetic, such a practice might lead to a little irritation, then a sore, then infection, and finally, a major ulcer. Remove "removers" from reach. Caustic agents for removing corns and calluses can easily cause a serious chemical burn on a diabetic's skin. Never use them. Take care of the little things. Any time a cut, sore, burn, scratch, or other minor injury appears on a diabetic's foot, it must be attended to immediately. "Wash the lesion with soap and water to remove all foreign matter. Cover with a protective sterile dressing. Use adhesive tape with caution, if at all, because it can weaken the skin when it is pulled off. Use paper or cloth-type tape instead". If the sore is not healing or if you notice signs of infection, such as redness, red streaks, warmth, swelling, pain, or drainage, see a podiatrist. Choose shoes with care. "Since a person with diabetes may not always be aware of the pain caused by shoes that are too tight, he or she must be very attentive to fit when buying new shoes".

The problem of hypoglycemia (lowering of blood sugar) is more common in insulin-dependent diabetics, particularly when aggressive efforts are made to keep both the fasting plasma glucose level and postprandial hyperglycemia within the normal range. Hypoglycemia may be caused by missing a meal or doing unexpected exercise but can occur in the absence of known precipitating events. Daytime episodes of hypoglycemia are usually recognized by symptoms, such as sweating, nervousness, tremor, and hunger. Hypoglycemia during sleep may produce no symptoms or cause night sweats, unpleasant dreams, and early-morning headache. In one study of insulin-dependent diabetic children monitored throughout 24 h, 18 percent had asymptomatic nocturnal hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia is not aborted by counter regulatory hormone response provided by nature or by ingestion of carbohydrate, central nervous system symptoms ensue: confusion, abnormal behavior, loss of consciousness, or convulsions.

There is no definite level of blood sugar below which symptoms of hypoglycemia may begin. It varies in individuals.