Hello Diabetes

While there are many varieties of salt available, it’s crucial to focus on how much we consume, especially for those with high blood pressure or kidney issues, who should limit their intake to about 3 grams daily. Although all salts contain similar sodium and potassium levels, rock salt offers additional micronutrients, making it a healthier option when used in moderation. Frozen shoulder is another concern, particularly for people with uncontrolled diabetes, as it restricts shoulder movement and causes significant pain. Physiotherapy, often required for 3-4 months, is the best treatment and should be applied to both shoulders to prevent recurrence, highlighting the importance of blood sugar management and avoiding painkillers. During the monsoon season, it's essential to choose healthier foods, such as green tea, steamed vegetables, fiber-rich foods, and soups, rather than high-calorie fried items. The lockdown period showed that those who maintained good diabetes control experienced fewer complications, underscoring that diabetes itself isn’t harmful—it's the lack of discipline and neglect in managing health that poses risks. With proper care and consistent healthy, dietary and lifestyle habits, managing diabetes effectively becomes more achievable. Recorded on 28/06/2024

Globally 8th March is marked as the “International Women’s Day”, while in India 10th March is being recognized as National “Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Awareness day” on the occasion of birthday of Dr. V. Seshiah (Padmashri), who has done the pioneering work in the field of pregnancy diabetes in our country. High blood glucose in mother during pregnancy enters into foetal circulation which stimulates beta cells of foetus to secret insulin, causing hyperinsulinemia in the developing foetus. This increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension & heart disease in their adolescent & adult life. Early detection & intense treatment of high glucose of pregnancy can save these children from developing diabetes in future, which is termed as “Primordial Prevention”. Thus every pregnant woman should be screened for diabetes at the first antenatal visit. Also, 50% of GDM women develop frank diabetes in 1-5 years after delivery. So, after delivery every GDM women should screen herself for diabetes after 6 weeks, 6 months and then annually to avoid future complications. “If you educate a man, you educate a man but if you educate a woman, you educate the generations,” said Dr. Gupta, on this occasion, while emphasizing upon the mission education of hello diabetes. Recorded on 8th March 2024.

Everyone is aware of Type 1 DM (Insulin dependent diabetes, seen commonly in children) & Type 2 DM (usually seen in adults & majority are controlled on oral drugs & Lifestyle Modification ). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a kind of diabetes, which appears in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy and disappears after delivery. GDM occurs when the woman’s beta cells are not able to overcome the antagonism created by the anti-insulin placental hormones of pregnancy. Which causes increase in the blood glucose during pregnancy. Women with a history of GDM are at increased risk of future diabetes; predominately type 2 diabetes, as are their children. Almost every 5th or 6th pregnancy women in India, may have GDM. Diabetes In Pregnancy Study Group of India (DIPSI) recommends fasting or non-fasting Oral Glucose Tolerance Challenge Test with 75g of glucose with a cut-off of ≥ 140 mg/dl after 2-hours, Every pregnant woman should be screened for glucose intolerance in the first trimester itself. If found negative, the screening test is to be performed again at 24th – 28 th week and finally around 32 nd – 34 th week. Once diagnosis is made, Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT) is advised initially for two weeks. If MNT fails to achieve control i.e., FPG ≥ 90mg/dl and/or 2 hr PPG ≥120mg/dl, oral drugs or insulin may be initiated. Recorded on 28th January 2022.

Children and adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) are at high risk of the acute and chronic complications. The acute complications are Hypoglycemia (low sugar attack) and Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening problem that usually affects people with T1DM. It occurs when the body starts breaking down fat at a rate that is much too fast. The liver processes the fat into a fuel as ketones, which causes the blood to become acidic. Diabetic Ketoacidosis begins with mild ketosis in a person with T1DM due to their high blood glucose, dehydration, infection or same precipitating cause. It should be checked in urine ( by keto-Diastix ) if fasting glucose is more than 250mg/dl or Postmeal / Random Glucose is> 350 mg/dl or during any episode of vomiting, fever abdominal pain, drowsiness or any sick day symptoms. (Recorded on July 14 2023 at Akashvani Nagpur) Hypoglycemia means when the blood glucose falls to below 70mg/dl, which requires to be corrected by oral glucose or Sweets or any available food. Mild and moderated hypoglycemia can be managed at home, but severe hypoglycemia presents with unconsciousness, abnormal behaviour, seizures or rarely paralysis which needs hospitalization. To prevent hypoglycemia, much effort must be invested in education regarding risk factors, warning signs, and treatment of hypoglycemia at an early stage. Also Diabetic Identity Card (DIC) plays an important role. Every diabetic should have DIC which will help them in emergency conditions to get the immediate treatment.