Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications. Acutecomplications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes

Symptoms

Causes

Causes:

To understand diabetes, first, you must understand how glucose is normally processed in the body.

How insulin works

Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

• The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.
• The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells.
• Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.
• As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.

The role of glucose

Glucose — a sugar — is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

• Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver.
• Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin.
• Your liver stores and makes glucose.
• When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.

Causes of type 1 diabetes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is that your immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses — attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what those factors are is still unclear. Weight is not believed to be a factor in type 1 diabetes.

Causes of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

In prediabetes — which can lead to type 2 diabetes — and in type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it’s needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it’s believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes too. Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with type 2 is overweight.

Causes of gestational diabetes

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin.

Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can’t keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Treatment

• Take your medication on time, as directed

Every single dose counts. Even though the symptoms of diabetes are silent, do not neglect the medicine. Untreated diabetes can lead to heart diseases, nerve damage and other serious complications. Take your doctor’s advice and follow the instructions carefully.

• Monitor your sugar levels

Ignorance is not bliss with diabetes. Be aware of your diabetes condition with regular blood tests. Glucose in the blood can fluctuate depending on your food intake, activity, illnesses and even stress. You can keep your sugar level in control only if you are aware of its fluctuations.

• Know what you eat

Eating habits have a direct connection with blood sugar levels. Keep a log of what you eat, how much you eat, what time do you eat, etc. Over time, you will observe patterns in your eating habits. It will then help you reduce the bad food intake and increase the good ones.

• Be high on fibre

Carbohydrates are the main reasons for your sugar levels. Avoiding them is not a very good idea, but controlling their intake is. You just have to make simple choices like choosing brown bread over white bread and many other high-fibre carbs over low-fibre carbs. Moreover, high fibre carbs also provide lasting energy for your daily active routine.

• Quit smoking and drinking

Smoking and alcohol have a high impact on the health condition of a diabetic patient. Smoking makes every complication of diabetes even worse. On the other hand, regular alcohol intake is known to increase the blood glucose levels to quite an extent.

Holistic Approach – Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes

Ayurvedic products have been used since ancient times for the management of diabetes and many other disorders due to their holistic approach towards the management of diseases. Ayurvedic medicines for diabetes have claimed to lower the blood sugar and benefit people with or at high risk of Type 2 diabetes. A number of clinical studies carried out recently have shown the potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in number people with diabetes using these more ‘natural’ ingredients to help manage their condition.

Bhagwati Ayurveda with a vision of providing a universal treatment option for diabetes patients has introduced Nutrabet, novel herbal supplement for diabetes. Nutrabet provides a Comprehensive Holistic Nutritional Support for Diabetes Care.

Nutrabet is an ideal adjuvant in the management of diabetes. Amalaki, in Nutrabet, preserves and empowers the functions of beta cells. Vijaysaar is an insulin sensitizer and maintains normal blood sugar levels. Karela enhances insulin secretion and reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis. Micronutrients like Vitamin C, Carnitine, and Chromium improve insulin sensitivity.

The ingredients of Nutrabet have multi-component effect in diabetes as they enhance insulin secretion, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce hepatic gluconeogenesis, reduce gut absorption of carbohydrates, modulate fat metabolism and normalize blood sugar levels.

The cumulative pharmacological action of Nutrabet helps minimize the chances of diabetic complications if started sufficiently early.

Prevention

There is no known preventive measure for type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes – which accounts for 85–90% of all cases – can often be prevented or delayed by maintaining a normal body weight, engaging in physical activity, and consuming a healthy diet. Higher levels of physical activity (more than 90 minutes per day) reduce the risk of diabetes by 28%.

The relationship between type 2 diabetes and the main modifiable risk factors (excess weight, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use) is similar in all regions of the world. There is growing evidence that the underlying determinants of diabetes are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural change: globalization, urbanization, population aging, and the general health policy environment.