November 14 is recognized as World Diabetes Day all around the World. The disease is growing rapidly in all countries whether developing or developed countries. The disease has proved to be the major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, and stroke. Other illnesses such as weakening of the lower limbs and high blood pressure are also associated with it. According to reports, during 2000 and 2016, there was a 5% increase in premature mortality from diabetes, and in 2019, it was the ninth leading cause of death with an estimated 1.5 million deaths directly caused by it.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that causes serious health problems over some time. It occurs when your blood glucose goes high. The food you eat is broken down into glucose and releases energy into your body. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin which is a key to let blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. In some cases, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or use insulin well which results in the glucose staying in your blood, not reaching your cells. Over some time. When the glucose accumulates in your blood it causes serious health problems.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1: This type of diabetes refers to deficient insulin production. The immune system of a person’s body attacks and destroys the cells of the pancreas that makes insulin. Around 5-10% of people have type 1 diabetes. The symptoms include excessive excretion of urine, thirst, extreme hunger, weight loss, vision change, and fatigue. People, having type 1 diabetes need to take insulin regularly to survive.

Type 2: In this condition, the body doesn’t use insulin well, it is formally known as non-insulin dependant. It is the most common type of diabetes and can occur at any stage of life. It is diagnosed in adults but most commonly occurs in children, teens, and young adults. It develops over some time due to excessive body weight and physical inactivity.

Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is diagnosed during prenatal screening. Usually, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born but the mother and the child are at the greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia with above-normal glucose levels but below those diagnostic of diabetes.

Prediabetes: In this condition, blood sugar is above normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes but people developing this condition are at higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Most people do not know that they are gradually developing this condition. With a little change in lifestyle and food habits, one can get rid of it.

How to prevent diabetes:

Diabetes can be prevented by taking the necessary steps:

• Regular physical activity- 30 minutes moderate activity every day.
• Maintain healthy body weight.
• Eat healthily, avoid sugary and fatty food.

Refrain from tobacco use- smoking increases diabetes and cardiovascular disease.