Control Diabetes To Save Your Vision And Kidneys

The global diabetic community is always at risk of diabetes associated complications. The disease may be hereditary or lifestyle associated. The growing number of cases per year among children and adolescents is a cause of concern. World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November every year in the memory of Sir Frederick Banting who discovered insulin, with an aim of awareness among masses about the alarming rise of diabetes through out the world. Knowledge about the 'warning signs of diabetes' and its control could definitely help us to control diabetes and diabetes associated complications. Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism leads to diabetes. The carbohydrates in the form of starch and sugars are acted upon by the enzymes of the saliva in our mouth and pancreatic and intestinal juices in the small intestine. The action of various digestive enzymes converts the complex sugars into simple sugar such as glucose. The glucose is absorbed by villi of the small intestine, passes into the blood capillaries, and is carried by the portal vein to the liver, where excess sugar is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver cells until required for use. The amount of starch and complex sugars and other chemicals we eat, influence our metabolism. Insulin is called anti-diabetic hormone and plays an important role in the carbohydrate metabolism. Insulin is secreted by pancreas and governs the ability of the cells of the body to absorb and use glucose and fats. Diabetes may be non-insulin dependent or insulin dependant depending on the involvement of insulin. Preservatives in food stuffs, coloring agents and taste maker chemicals could be the main cause of diabetes in children and adolescents.

Diabetes associated complications are related to duration of diabetes. The longer is the duration of diabetes, the greater is the risk of diabetic complications. It has been documented that 80 per cent of the patients who suffer from diabetes for more than 15 years would have damage to retina. The diabetic retinopathy is a serious diabetic complication. Diabetic retinopathy damages the blood vessels of the retina and could lead to blindness. Early detection of diabetes and its control through regular exercise, medication and change in lifestyle and food habits is the key to avoiding diabetic complications. To reduce the incidence of various diabetic complications, it is important to keep the blood sugar levels under control and have regular checkup. Diabetic retinopathy may be non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or if unchecked that may lead to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Lack of blood supply to retina in proliferative diabetic retinopathy may lead to complete vision loss.

Diabetic nephropathy, a kidney disease is another serious complication associated with diabetes. Kidneys play a vital role in our body to excrete toxic waste products of metabolism and to maintain balance of electrolytes and water as well. Uncontrolled diabetes causes irreversible damage to renal glomeruli, the filtration units of our kidneys. There is a great need for the diabetic friends to control diabetes through conventional and non conventional methods to lead a healthy and cheerful life without much complication. All diabetic patients must have a medical and eye examination at regular intervals to avoid diabetes associated complications.