There are around 72 million people with diabetes in India and these numbers are expected to increase to 134 million in the next 10-15 years. Uncontrolled diabetes can affect many organs and the kidney is one of the most serious of these complications. On World Kidney Day, its time we start paying attention to this issue. After 15 to 20 years of having diabetes, nearly a third of people with the condition develop kidney complications. Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in the world. Therefore, it is essential that all clinicians understand how to appropriately screen patients for diabetic kidney disease with a focus on prevention of kidney diseases, and if is already present, to try to slow down its progression.
Stages of diabetic kidney disease
This first stage of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is called microalbuminuria, and at this stage small amounts of albumin begin to leak into the urine. As the disease progresses larger quantities of albumin leak into the urine. This stage is called macroalbuminuria or proteinuria. Slowly the kidneys’ filtering capacity begins to drop and the body begins to retain various waste products as filtration falls. As kidney damage develops further, the blood pressure rises and this further damages the kidney. After months or years, the DKD may progress to end st
A pregnant woman presents to her doctor with complaints of frequent thirst, excess fatigue, and is found to be prone to infections. The doctor examines her and orders for a few tests and diagnoses her with having developed ‘gestational diabetes mellitus’ or GDM. While diabetes has long been a health concern in the country, what exactly is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and what does it mean? We are here to give you a better understanding. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of gestational diabetes is rising in India, with Indian women genetically predisposed to it. One study pegs the prevalence of GDM in south India to be 17.8% in urban women, 13.8% in semi-urban women and 9.9% in rural women.
“Gestational diabetes is nothing more than a condition in which a woman who is not diabetic and has normal blood sugar levels prior to pregnancy, develops diabetes during pregnancy as a result of several hormonal changes which take place in the body,” explains Dr Paresh Ved. “What should be noted is that mos
Trying to balance the demands of family and work or school—and coping with media pressure to look and eat a certain way—can make it difficult for any woman to maintain a healthy diet. But the right food can not only support your mood, boost your energy, and help you maintain a healthy weight; it can also be a huge support through the different stages in a woman’s life. Healthy food can help reduce PMS, boost fertility, make pregnancy and nursing easier, ease symptoms of menopause, and keep your bones strong. Whatever your age or situation, committing to a healthy, nutritious diet will help you look and feel your best and get the most out of life. Why many women lack with their Nutritional Needs? As women, many of us are prone to neglecting our own dietary needs. You may feel you’re too busy to eat right, used to putting the needs of your family first, or trying to adhere to an extreme diet that leaves you short on vital nutrients and feeling cranky, hungry, and low on energy. While what works best for one woman may not always be the best choice for another. Whether you’re looking to improve your energy and mood, combat stress or PMS, boost fertility, enjoy a healthy
A lot is written about HbA1c and a plethora of information about HbA1c is available for netizens. As a diabetologist, I would like to explain this to you in a slightly more simplistic manner. Hba1c is like a CCTV of our office, it records everything that you eat (the glucose content of the food). It records everything for 3 months and it is unbiased… So, it will record everything, the small dessert you had, the cheat meal you gorged and practically everything.
There are so many tests these packages offer. So should I go for an HbA1c?
You may need an HbA1c test if you have symptoms of diabetes. These include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
Your health care provider may also order an HbA1c test if you are at higher risk for getting diabetes. Risk factors include:
- Being overweight or obese
- High blood pressure
- History of heart disease
- Physical inactivity
It is a very important tool to know if your diabetes management plan (lifestyle modification and medicines) are on the right track or not. Interpretation of results:
- Normal: HbA1c below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4
- Diabetes: HbA1c of 6.5% or higher
In known diabetic patients, the following values can be considered as a tool for monitoring gly
A diagnosis of diabetes changes life for the diabetic as well as for a non-diabetic spouse or partner. Diabetes, which is characterised by elevated glucose levels due to the body’s inability to produce sufficient insulin or use it effectively, can have serious health consequences like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and nerve damage that can lead to numbness in the foot and possibly amputation if unnoticed wounds on the foot do not heal. A person diagnosed with diabetes quickly learns that regulating his or her glucose on a daily basis is critical. Most often, this is done by changing diets and exercise habits. Diabetes also comes with an increased risk for other physical problems such as erectile dysfunction for men and hypertension and couple, diabetes care, managing diabetes, partner, valentine's day
Diabetes can cause poor blood flow to the feet, making it more difficult for wounds to heal, sometimes resulting in infections and possibly amputation. Complicating matters, poorly controlled diabetes can also lead to nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. This may cause them to lose sensation in their feet, so they may not feel potentially harmful cuts or blisters. To help protect the feet and overall health, it is important to know what to look for in diabetes shoes.
Selecting the Right Pair
Covered shoes: Look for a shoe that has a large enclosed front, as well as a closed back and top. Shoes that expose the toes or heels increase the risk of injury and infection.
Adjustable closure: Look for shoes that have laces or velcro. The built-in flexibility allows the person to tighten or loosen the shoes depending on whether or not the foot is swelling. Wide toe: Steer clear of shoes with narrow or pointed toes. Shoes with a round or wide toe box provide the feet with more room and are less likely to cause irritation. Low heel: Flats or shoes with heels less than two inches high are a better option than shoes with higher heels. Lower-heeled
Studies have found that strong family support can indeed play a positive role to help diabetic patients better manage blood sugar levels, deal with stress and depression, and to also encourage the adoption of improved lifestyle choices. Studies also indicate that one of the best predictors of how well someone takes care of their diabetes is the amount of support they get from their family and friends.
For parents with diabetes
- Contribute with cash money to the household economy.
- Provide food recommended by the clinician.
- Family members can actively help their loved ones!
- Provide post-surgery care (bathing, dressing the wound), if required.
- Keep an eye to watch that the parent does not eat food forbidden by the clinician.
- Be mindful of regular screenings and check-ups and the results of the medical examinations. Accompany the parent to medical appointments.
- Buy products that are suitable for family consumption.
- Act as translators or readers for parents when they cannot read or write.
For spouse with diabetes
- Accompany the respective partner to exercise and to medical appointments.
- In
It’s a brand New Year! Now’s the time when people take their time to reflect on the past and come up with resolutions planning to do something better this year. For most people, diabetic or not, exercise and diet are what they resolve on. People rush to buy gym memberships and promise to themselves that they’ll not overeat. But it’s often easier said than done. As the year progresses, resolutions are forgotten in no time and people get back to their usual schedule.
The SMART New Year’s Resolution
So let’s make this New Year’s Resolution different. Instead of just having a resolution in our minds, let’s set SMART Goals for the New Year. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, specify a particular Action, are Realistic, and completed in a certain amount of Time. To start with, it is very important to set up a realistic goal. If you tell yourself that you will do 90 minutes High-Intensity Training workouts, but have never exercised in your life, it would be unlikely that you’d achieve your goal. That would be plain unrealistic. 
To set a SMART goal, focus on what you can really accomplish. With a hectic lifestyle that most Indians nowadays have, it is almost impossible to work out dai
Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate love and can be a reminder to make healthy choices part of your everyday life. The month of February is not just about flowers and chocolate. February is also American Heart Month. Take some time to be good to your heart, and share these heart-healthy tips with your friends and family. 1) Shoot for 30: 30 minutes of exercise, that is. Consistent exercise helps strengthen your heart and burn the fat. If you can’t fit in 30 continuous minutes of exercise, you can split it up into three 10-minute walks throughout the day. 2) Eat your fats: Certain fats are good for your heart. These fats include olive oil, avocado, nuts and oilseedS. In addition, try having at least two servings a week of fatty coldwater fish like salmon, halibut and tuna, which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3s may decrease triglyceride levels, slow the rate of atherosclerotic plaque and lower blood pressure. 3) Take charge of stress: Stress may affect your hea
Eating at Christmas is part of the fun, and there’s no need to completely miss out on certain foods. But a healthy diet is important for managing diabetes, so if you have the condition then you can always consider having healthy versions of classic Christmas dishes. Keeping discipline to control sugar levels and portions can be particularly difficult. So for those of us for who willpower doesn’t come too easily, here are our tips for enjoying sensible eating at Christmas. Commit yourself to a food plan
- It’s very easy to get carried away by what’s on the table.
- To reduce the chance of this happening plan how much you intend to eat and make a point of sticking to it.
- If you’re not cooking, find out what will be served in advance.
- It’s best to make this plan at a time when you’re not hungry as hunger can distort your judgement.
Avoid feeling hungry for too long
- One way to avoid being ravenous is to break the delay. Protein and/or non-starchy vegetable based pre-meal snacks are a good choice as they