Expressing concern over rising cases of diabetes in India, Association of Hospitals (AOH) has stated that diabetes can be controlled if proper precautions are taken and medical advice is followed strictly.
“In today’s time diabetes is one of the most common life style diseases. Unfortunately India is becoming the diabetes capital. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced. If one is diabetic, lifelong care is required. If proper precautions are taken and medical advice is followed strictly, diabetes can be controlled and person can lead a normal life for many years,” said Dr. PM Bhujang, president, Association of Hospitals.
He suggested few aspects which a diabetic person should keep a check on. “Everyone should undergo periodic check-ups to find out if he has diabetes. He should also get checked if he has symptoms, like extreme thirst, frequent urination, injuries healing slowly, unexplained weight loss, unusual tiredness, tingling or numbness in the hands/feet, blurred vision, headache, fatigue and itchy skin,” he said.
“Regular check-ups of blood sugar level, periodic check-ups of kidney function and lipid levels should be carried out. Similarly a person should undergo periodic physical examination to rule out hypertension and ischaemic heart disease and to rule out neuropathy and retinopathy. He should carry a card informing that he is a diabetic so that if the symptoms of hypoglycaemia develop others can help wherever he is”, he added.
Diet control and exercise is a very important factor that should be considered. The person should always eat at regular intervals and avoid sweets. They must replace complex carbohydrates food with low carbohydrates and protein foods with fibres. They should take dieticians advice and follow the regimen strictly.
Diet and exercise should be directed to maintain ideal weight and to prevent obesity. If complications develop like diabetic foot, retinopathy and nephropathy, he should take specialist advice, Dr Bhujang added.
All forms of diabetes increase the risk of long-term complications. Learning about the disease and actively participating in the treatment is important, since complications are far less common and less severe in people who follow the above mentioned measures, he concluded.