World Diabetes Day 2018 focuses on family as doctors advise good diet and physical activity

According to Dr. Anjan Siotia (Diabetes and Heart) of the C K Birla Hospitals - BMB, Kolkata, “Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels which can lead to the development of coronary heart disease, stroke and vascular dementia."

He said the risk of heart attacks and strokes are up to three times more likely in people with diabetes and "hence, it is important to maintain blood pressure through medication and  keep your body fit  with regular physical activities combined with some weight loss training which also help in reducing high blood pressure.”

It was first started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)  —  an organisation of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries - and the World Health Organization (WHO).

But it went  official when, in 2007, the United Nations General Assembly, adopted a resolution designating this day for developing multilateral efforts to  promote and improve human health.

November 14 was chosen since it  marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar in the human body.

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease of type 1 and type 2 nature in which the immune system destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, leaving patients painfully dependent on insulin injections for survival.

India is host to over 97,000 type 1 diabetic children, with 32 per lakh children suffering from the disease in the national capital of Delhi.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 is The Family and Diabetes.

On the eve of World Diabetes Day, WHO's Regional Director for South-East Asia, Poonam Khetrapal Singh said families  who are aware of the signs, symptoms, risks and complications of diabetes are best placed to prevent it.

She stressed, authorities regionwise, need to harness the capacity since an estimated 91 million people in the WHO South-East Asia Region live with diabetes, with around 49 million unaware of their condition.

Termed as silent killer, undiagnosed or poorly controlled  type 1 and type 2 diabetes  are the major causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation.

It's  a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
Hyperglycaemia, or increased level of sugar in human blood, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes.

Over time it leads to serious damage to many of the body's organs, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

As per a UN report, there has been an alarming rise in the population inflicted with diabetes.

An estimated, 422 million adults were suffering from diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980. The global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7% to 8.5% in the adult population.

This reflects an increase in associated risk factors such as being overweight or obese.

Echoeing the opinion of Singh, on the eve of the World Diabetes Day, doctors at the Kolkata based C K Birla Hospitals – Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) too added to the general public awareness of the scourge that diabetes is, admonishing means of keeping the illness at bay.

Dr.  Saswata Chatterjee  (Diabetes and Gastroenterology), C K Birla Hospitals - CMRI, said “over the time diabetes can affect many parts of your body including the entire GI tract - from the oral cavity and esophagus to the large bowel and anorectal region."

"It alters your digestion process leading to food staying in your body longer than it should. This condition is known as Gastroparesis which affects people mostly suffering from Type 1 diabetes. Common symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weight loss, heart burn, abdominal pain are major signs. The best solution is to seek immediate medical help and lower your blood sugar level through medication.”

In addition to eating away into the internal system, diabetes can also inflict major harm to human joints.

Opines Dr. Ayan Roy (Diabetes and Joint) C K Birla Hospitals - CMRI:  “Diabetes tends to cause gain in weight thereby increasing joint stress. If somebody loses 1 kilo, joint is offloaded by 3 kilos. The extra glucose sticks to the surfaces of the joints, blocking their movements. This stickiness restricts movement and leads to wear-and-tear injury while high-glucose degrade collagen as well. Consult your doctor for complete guidance regarding weight loss, blood sugar control, exercise and necessary medication. If recommended opt for physiotherapy and occupational therapy which help in holistic recovery.”

Sounding alarm on diabetes disrupting human renal function, Dr. Sandeep Kumar Bhattacharya  (Diabetes and Renal), CMRI,  pointed out,  “diabetes frequently creates complication in the kidney function."

"High sugar level damages filtration barrier. This in turn damage kidneys that start to leak small amounts of protein into the urine. Not every diabetic patient suffer from renal failure. Though, chances of renal problems increase when blood sugar level remains unmanaged. Moreover, uncontrolled diabetes increases chances of septic arthritis which is a very dreaded complication. Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control, avoiding alcohol, smoking and junk food, staying active go a long way in preserving a balanced blood sugar level.”

In fact, socioeconomic condition contribute vastly to proliferation of this ailment. 

According to a UN report, over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

To heighten awareness among the people, a logo has been designed for the World Diabetes Day. It is a blue circle popular among millions of of people with diabetes, throughout the world.

On each World Diabetes Day, famous buildings and monuments all over the world are lit up in blue.

This powerful and striking image helps to spread the message about World Diabetes Day to diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

To contain this silent killer experts advised a balanced healthy diet, good amount of physical activity and avoidance of tobacco.

This can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition, the disease can also be tamed and its consequences avoided or delayed with proper medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.