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
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
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
Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. Eating at Christmas is a major part of celebration, and there’s no need to completely miss out on specific foods only because you are a Diabetic . But a healthy diet is important for managing diabetes. So, here are some recipes only for you to enjoy this Christmas without any regrets!!!
VIRGIN MOJITO
Virgin Mojito, a traditional delicious and refreshing drink, adds a sparkle to any party, being a great replacement for alcoholic beverages.
Ingredients:
- 16 large fresh mint leaves, plus 4 sprigs to serve
- 2 fresh limes, washed and cut into small chunks
Every year Wellness hosts many different events ranging from seminars for “Diabetes Management Awareness” to “Diabetes Detection Camps” that are created by the community. Each event is unique and crucial and assists in building awareness. This ultimately will help us to educate and spread awareness about diabetes. This time, we organized a Diabetes Awareness Camp with KYGB (Kutchi Youth Group of Bhandup) at Bhandup.
On this special day, celebrate life. Take a break from your busy schedule. Let your hair down, have fun and do what your heart says. Cuz today is your day. Have a great Women’s Day! International Women’s Day is the time to reflect on the impact of diabetes on women. In India, more than 65.1 million people are with the diabetes and approximately half of these people are women and it is a leading cause of death. Diabetes Mellitus impacts overall health of the women because women lead such a busy life with erratic schedule, may find it hard to keep up a regular exercise schedule, they often skip their meals and neglect their health needs.
HOW DIABETES AFFECTS WOMEN
Matters of the heart: The genetic make-up of women makes them less likely to suffer heart attacks compared to their male counterparts. However, diabetes strips women of this advantage, making them more susceptible to an attack than men with the disease. In addition, the attacks are also more fatal. Further, while premenopausal women are generally considered less likely to suffer from a heart attack, this advantage too is nullified in young women suffering from diabetes. Between the sheets: Although the effects of diabetes on the sexual health of men are fairly well-known, diabetic women’s sexual performance is a topic less discussed. High sugar levels in women
Shivaratri Fast is considered to be the most important fast for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Shiva Purana goes on to say that if a devotee observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Fasts are not meant to create undue hardship or create a life-threatening situation. All religions discourage people who are sick, pregnant, nursing a baby from fasting. Patients with diabetes fall under this category because their chronic metabolic disorder may place them at high-risk for various complications if the pattern and amount of their meal and fluid intake is markedly altered. Myth: Fasting helps to maintain normal blood glucose levels
Facts:
- Fasting can cause hypoglycemia in patients with uncontrolled type I and type II diabetes mellitus.
- On the other hand, depending on the individual, fasting without using insulin can result in high blood sugars or in diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious diabetes complication caused by blood build-up of acids called ketones).
- Dehydration is another fear if fluids are avoided during the fast. But diabetes patients can safely fast if one follows a balanced way of eating.
- If you decide to fast, take advise from your diabetologist. Make sure your blood glucose levels are at normal range to avoid further complications
- Kee
It’s a new year and a great time to start fresh! Managing diabetes means making healthy food choices, staying at a healthy weight, being active and working every day to keep your blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure under control and taking your medications as prescribed. But even if you know what to do to improve your health and manage your diabetes, figuring out how to do it and fitting it into your daily routine can be a big challenge. The start of a new year is the perfect time to think about the lifestyle changes you want to make to be healthier. Making changes in how you care for your health is a matter of trying and learning. It’s about making a plan and taking small but important steps to help you reach your New Year Goals:
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels daily before or after meals
- Take diabetes-related medications
- Consult your Diabetologist at least once in a three month
- Check your blood cholesterol, blood pressure and HbA1C which provides an average of your blood sugar control over the past 3 months along with blood sugar monitoring to make adjustments in diabetes medicines
- Get renal function test, Micro albumin test and eye test each year
- See your dentist twice a year
- Get your foot examination done once a year as diabetics are more likely to have peripheral neuropathy (numbness in feet