According to the International Diabetes Federation, 371 million around the world suffer from diabetes and half of them go undiagnosed. This is dangerous because when left untreated, diabetes can lead to a host of health complications such as kidney damage, nerve problems, eye ailment, heart ailments and other diseases. Hence, it is important to ensure that you don’t belong to the ignorant half by learning to spot the symptoms of diabetes.

#1 Increase in appetite

A diabetic is unable to process glucose so they feel hungry all the time since the cells are craving for glucose.

#2 Feeling thirsty all the time

Excess sugar in the blood causes diabetics to get dehydrated. This is why diabetics feel thirsty all the time. Here are 5 more causes for excessive thirst you might not know about

#3 Excess urination

Due to dehydration and the constant feeling of thirst, diabetics tend to drink more water which is the reason they end up visiting the bathroom more often. Excess urination is a common sign of diabetes. Are you aware of these 6 reasons that lead to urinating more frequently than normal

#4 Sudden weight loss

Since a diabetic’s body is unable to utilise the available glucose, the body burns fat which leads to involuntary weight loss even without exercising or following a healthy diet.

(Editor’s Note: Losing weight due to diabetes is not a cause for celebration. The body goes into a state of ketoacidosis, producing chemicals called ketones which break down fats too quickly. They make the blood more acidic which can lead to organ damage.)

#5 Feeling fatigued all day long

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms observed in diabetic people. Hence, if you feel more thirsty along with a tired feeling, check your sugar levels. Here are some of most common causes of fatigue you should be aware of

#6 Tingling in the arms and legs

High glucose levels in the body affects the nerves which cause a condition called diabetic neuropathy leading to tingling sensation and numbness at the ends of the body – the arms and legs. Diabetic neuropathy is a serious condition and a malfunctioning nervous system will result in skin problems, digestive issues, urinary bladder problems and heart ailments.

#7 Inability to heal infections

Due to lack of glucose in the system, the body’s immune system’s ability to fight infections goes down. Diabetics are likely to suffer from skin, vaginal and urinary bladder infections. Here are 8 foot care tips diabetics must follow.

#8 Blurry vision

Due to high blood sugar, the shape and flexibility of the lens of the eye changes and this distorts the eye’s ability to focus. This is why diabetics tend to have blurry vision. If left untreated, this condition can lead to diabetic retinopathy which can lead to blindness.

#9 Cuts and wounds which won’t heal

Like we mentioned before the inability to heal wounds properly also stems from lack of glucose which hampers your immune system’s ability to heal properly.

#10 Feeling highly irritated or depressed all the time

Finally, less glucose in your system can leave you feeling extremely depressed or highly irritated all the time. This is because the brain isn’t getting adequate glucose.

If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms we suggest you visit your doctor immediately. Living with diabetes is feasible, all you have to do is live a proper lifestyle and follow the doctor’s advice strictly. 

9 things excess sugar does to your body

Although sugar is an excellent source of instant energy, it is a silent killer making us vulnerable to many other conditions. Listed here are few of the many ill effects sugar has on our health.
Ill effects on health:
1. Causes fat built-up: Table sugar or sucrose mainly consists of glucose and fructose. Glucose is required by every cell for energy whereas, fructose is not required by the body and metabolised by the liver and turned into glycogen to be used whenever required. But excess fructose can overload the liver and lead to abnormal amounts of lipids or fats in the blood.
2. Causes insulin resistance: High fructose diet has been shown to induce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition where the cells do not respond to insulin, which causes high concentration of sugar in the blood. This also gives rise to various metabolic disorders including type 2 daibetes . Blood sugar levels can fluctuate without any prior warning in diabetics and there are Tasly products for it.
3. Causes Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): High fructose consumption increases the risk of developing NAFLD As the liver metabolises fructose, it leads to generation of lipids or fats and energy depletion.
4. Can cause cancer: If more sugar is consumed, the body has to make effort to increase the production of insulin to utilise blood glucose. Studies have shown that insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) promote the proliferation of tumour cells. Also, elevated levels of insulin-like growth factors interfere with cancer therapy and its prognosis.3 Lack of insulin, due to metabolic utilisation, has also shown to increase the risk of mammary cancer.4
5. Bad for your teeth: Sugar also acts as a good source of energy for the bacteria in your mouth, which metabolise it and produce sugar acids which attack the tooth enamel giving rise to cavities.
6. Non-nutritious source of calories: One gram of sugar has an energy content of 3.94 kilo calories but sugar is completely devoid of proteins, mineral or vitamins. It only piles up calories without the body actually gaining any nourishment from it. Utilising as much nourishment as we can from natural sugar present in fruits is a healthy option.
7. Linked to obesity: The high sugar content of many foods, especially soft drinks or sugar sweetened drinks, has been linked to obeysity With the increasing consumption of sugar sweetened drinks, the Body Mass Index (BMI) and frequency of obesity increases.5
8. Causes addiction: Sugar, like other addictive drugs, stimulates the release of dopamine, which contributes to the addictive potential of sugar, making one sugar dependent. Controlling sugar cravings becomes difficult with time,
9. Increases the risk of cardiorenal diseases: Cardiorenal diseases are a class of diseases affecting the cardiovascular system and the kidney function. Fructose promotes the formation of uric acid, which in turn causes cardiorenal diseases like,hpertension obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and Kidney Disease
Sugar has become an integral part of diet and avoiding it completely can be very difficult. There are various alternative to sugar which are not only healthy but also impart that sweet taste we desire, to our food. DR OLA

What Is Diabetes? What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).

There are three types of diabetes: 

1) Type 1 Diabetes

The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.

Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1.

Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet.

Between 2001 and 2009, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among the under 20s in the USA rose 23%, according to SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth data issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

2) Type 2 Diabetes

The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).

Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.

Some people may be able to control their type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, type 2 diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the patient will probably end up have to take insulin, usually in tablet form.

Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk. Being overweight/obese causes the body to release chemicals that can destabilize the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to our risk of developing type 2 diabetes.Tasly  products is very good for diabetes. for more information, contact+us  or go to Self+Treatment

Diabetes – Symptoms, causes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease which is characterized by high blood sugar levels. It can be caused either due to the lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or because the body’s cells fail to respond to the insulin produced (type 2 diabetes). There’s another form of diabetes that afflicts pregnant women called gestational diabetes.

Symptoms 

In diabetes, the body is unable to absorb glucose which leads to a host of problems. Here are some of the symptoms that could indicate diabetes:

1. Increase in appetite
2. Frequent urination
3. Feeling too thirsty
4. Loss of weight
5. Feeling fatigued all day long
6. Frequent infections
7. Poor wound healing
8. High irritability/Depression
9. Blurred vision

1. Have you noticed an increase in appetite lately?

This could indicate polyphagia caused by body cells starving for glucose, which isn’t able to move into the cells in the case of a diabetic.

2. Do you have to visit the loo for urination more often these days?

This indicates polyuria caused by high amount of glucose in the urine.

3. Are you thirsty most of the time?

This could be polydypsia caused by the increase in urination and loss of fluids.

4. Have you lost a considerable amount of weight lately even after having an increase in appetite? 

In diabetes, the body is unable to utilize the available glucose. For want of fuel, it then starts burning fat which leads to weight loss.

5. Have you been feeling fatigued all day long lately?

Since the glucose stores aren’t utilized, the body is unable to get its energy and hence feels more fatigued.

6. Do your feet and fingers feel a tingling or numb sensation?

The high glucose levels in the body can affect the nerves and this can cause what is called ‘diabetic neuropathy’ causing tingling and numbness in the peripheries of the body.

7. Have you been suffering from infections more frequently than earlier?

The reduced nutrition levels in the body’s cells can decrease the immunity leading to frequent infections especially in the skin, vagina and urinary bladder.

8. Is your vision appearing blurred these days?

The shape and flexibility of the lens of the eye changes due to high blood sugar, thus distorting the ability to focus. This causes blurred vision.

9. Do you have cuts or wounds that have not been healing for a long time?

Due to a weakened immune system and increased predilection for infections, wound healing is poor in diabetics.

1. Have you been highly irritable and/or depressed lately?

This can be due to the decreased glucose supply and nutrition to the brain.

If you have noticed any of the above symptoms, it’s time you visit a doctor soon. Diabetes does not mean a death sentence  it is a disease one can live with, provided proper lifestyle changes and treatment as advised by the doctor are followed.

Tasly Product also help to prevent and cure it, for more information go to our treatment page above, for treatment

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.

It goes without saying that diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) go hand-in-hand, as the latter is prevalent in almost 75 percent of people suffering from type 2 diabetes. ^[1] Diabetes calls for following a proper fitness regimen and dietary restrictions. But when coupled with hypertension, a lifestyle disease, you need to be extra careful with your lifestyle choices as it increases your risk of stroke, kidney problems and heart diseases.

To understand how diabetes and high blood pressure affects your health, you need to understand what hypertension is.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood flowing through the arteries exerts pressure on the walls of blood vessels. But in some cases, the walls of the arteries thicken (due to deposition of cholesterol), which in turn increase the resistance for the blood flow. And this causes the heart to pump harder, causing the blood pressure to increase and leading to hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension – Why you need to worry?

According to a study published in the Journal Advances in Cardiology, hypertension and diabetes majorly affect the vascular system and thus, increase your risk of suffering from heart disease, it also lowers the functioning of kidneys and accelerates the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Coronary artery disease: High blood pressure damages the inner lining of the heart vessels and blocks the blood supply to the organ. This puts excess pressure on the heart, leading to tissue damage and chest pain in the long run. So if you have frequent chest pain and your blood pressure and diabetes is not within control, it indicates urgent medical attention.

Kidney damage: When the blood flow is affected, even your kidneys don’t receive enough blood and cannot function properly. Also, uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic retinopathy: Another common health complication that might occur if your blood pressure and diabetes is not under control is diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eyes) It causes the blood vessels to swell and leak out fluid. And in extreme cases, might lead to loss of vision. The only way to prevent it from worsening is to keep a tab on your blood sugar level and blood pressure. The common signs of eye damage you need to look out for are blurred or impaired vision, floaters or black spots in the eyes and extreme eye pain, says Dr Haresh Asnani, 

Here are some tips to prevent health complications caused due to high blood pressure and diabetes –

• Make sure your blood pressure is less than 130/80 mm Hg and blood sugar level (around 100 mg/dl)
• Go for a regular blood pressure and blood sugar check-ups.
• Lower your intake of salt and eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise daily at least for 30 minutes (you can even try practicing yoga)
• Take your medications on time.

Short story about Diabetes
Vicky is a successful businessman. He is 42 years old, about six feet, and weighs 110 kg. He doesn’t sleep well. He sweats a lot and feels lethargic right from the start of the day. He knows he is overweight and needs to do something about it, but where is the time! He tried losing weight by skipping breakfast and gorged on burgers at noon, so sooner than later he found himself back to where he started and worse. On his wife’s insistence, he saw a doctor and got himself a full medical check up. The blood work revealed a blood sugar level of 6.8 mmol (122.4 mg /dL). Vicky has prediabetes.

 What is prediabetes?

 Prediabetes is a condition in which the blood glucose or A1c levels become higher than normal but not high enough to be labeled as diabetes. Blood glucose levels rise when the body cannot process the sugar properly leading to build up of the sugar in the bloodstream.Since heart and circulatory system diseases (cardiovascular disease) associated with type-2 diabetes may begin with prediabetes, it is important that you know if you have the condition.

Can People with Diabetes eat fruits

 Usually, people who get diagnosed with diabetes believe that their food choices become highly restricted. Apart from following a strict diet plan, they have a lot other doubts about eating right and managing their sugar levels. One of them is whether or not they can eat fruits.

But the truth is, when it comes to diabetes management, no food is out of bounds. All you need is the key to balance it right. In this article,  Dr Olajuwon Sam answers all common queries that diabetics have regarding eating fruits.

Is it true that people with diabetes can have only specific fruits?

 No. A lot of misconceptions about eating specific fruits and avoiding others exist in people with diabetes. However, a diabetic who has well-controlled sugar can have all kinds of fruits, but in limited quantities. Fruits are no doubt sweet because of natural sugars present in them, but they also provide loads of other nutrients like vitamins, fibre and antioxidants, which are highly beneficial for diabetics.

Should people with diabetes follow specific guidelines when it comes to eating fruits?

Not really. Diabetes is a complicated condition and every person having diabetes is treated with an individual approach. Therefore, we cannot confine a patient’s diet or having fruits to specific guidelines. For example; consider two diabetic individuals. A father who is suffering from diabetes for the past 15-20 years and his son who is diagnosed with the condition just 2 months ago. Now, if the father eats one banana, his sugar levels may increase greatly, as high as 80 mg/dL. But his son who eats the same fruit may not observe a drastic rise in blood sugar levels. This is because the son still has his pancreatic reserves intact while the father may have uncontrolled, highly fluctuating sugar levels. So the fruits and their quantity that are recommended also depends on what stage of diabetes is the person at.

What are the best fruit options for people with diabetes?

Most fruits that have a low glycemic index (GI) and can be a good option to include in one’s daily meal plan. These include fruits such as  apples, oranges, strawberries, lemons and plums. ‘Fruits like grapes, mangoes, bananas, chickoos, custard apple can be eaten in limited quantities (one or 2 slices). It is also advisable to avoid eating over-ripe fruits,’ adds Dr Gadge.

What about fruit juices? Can they be consumed by diabetics?

Fruit juices are not ideal for diabetics; even the packaged ones that claim to be sugar-free. Juices can lead to spike in blood sugar levels which is not desirable. Instead, chewing fruits leads to a steady and gradual rise in sugar, which is more important while maintaining sugar levels in diabetes.

What do you recommend is the best time for diabetics to have fruits?

Diabetics should avoid having fruits immediately after lunch or dinner because it can cause further rise in sugar levels. There should be a gap of at least 2 hours between a meal and fruit intake. The ideal time to take fruits would be mid-morning ideally at about 11 am or in the evening at 5 pm. and with Tasly  for 45 days,