Guide

On being initially diagnosed to have diabetes, a person often reacts with anxiety, confusion and fear. This feeling of anxiety is a normal response as it could mean a restricted life-style, and fear of diabetes related serious complications.

‘Diabetes mellitus’ is a disease known from ancient times. Around 500 AD in Indian vedic literature this disorder was recognised as 'Madhumeha' meaning 'honey-urine'. In the second century AD Greek physician Aretaeus, was the first in Europe, to give a vivid picture of the nature of diabetes. He gave this disease its name, diabetes, from a Greek word 'diabetos' meaning a siphon, because in this disease fluids are not retained by the body. 'Mellitus' comes from Latin, meaning honey. During the 19th century, a remarkable progress has been made in the knowledge and understanding of diabetes. Today world wide there are millions of men, women and children who suffer from diabetes and lead a near normal life. This of course requires slight adjustment in their life style.

Although there is no known cure for diabetes, with early detection and modern therapy it can be controlled and you can enjoy a normal and active life. In order that you have a good control over the disease, active involvement and good understanding of diabetes and its therapy is essential.

As diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood levels of glucose (a simple sugar) are abnormally high because the body does not release or use insulin adequately, the most important factor is the proper control of blood sugar levels. If proper control of blood sugar levels is not achieved, diabetes can be life-threatening. You can control the blood sugar level by eating a balanced diet, with regular and controlled exercise, and if required with oral medication and/or insulin as advised by your doctor.

Thus all it takes is some proper awareness, some lifestyle adjustments, which might seem difficult in the beginning, but these changes quickly become routine.

• Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile - onset diabetes)
• Type 2 diabetes (previously called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity -onset diabetes)
  

Both these types of diabetics share a common feature : They have little or no ability to move sugar (or glucose) from out of their blood into their cells, and sugar is the primary fuel of the body. This is because they lack or have deficient supply of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin is the main regulator of the metabolism in the body as it is necessary to 'carry' the sugar in the blood stream into the billions of cells in the body.