Exercise and Diabetes

• Regular physical activity decreases insulin resistance and also decreases the Cholesterol content in the body. 
• Exercise increases the good cholesterol namely HDL Cholesterol.
• The benefits of exercise in Diabetes are lost within 3-10 days of stopping any regular exercise.
• Physical activity also protects against the development of type 2 diabetes.

 Recommendations

• The recommended minimum amount of activity for:
  • Adults - 30 minutes on at least five days of each week.
  • Children - one hour each day

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes developes when a body cannot produce adequate amount of insulin or the insulin that is produced is unable to work adequately.

Type 2 diabetes is a more common variety of Diabetes and its incidence has been on the increase.                 

This increased incidence of Diabetes has particularly affected South Asians, Indians and more so South Indians.

What are the symptoms for Type II Diabetes?

Some of the common symptoms encounted include an increased thirst known as Polydipsia                 increase in hunger known as Polyphagia and an increase frequency of urination known as Polyuria.

Quite often there is a family history of Diabetes. Being over weight contributes to the development of Diabetes.  Also as we age specialy greater than 40 years we are more prone to this condition.

What can we do to prevent Diabetes?

Preventing Diabetes is possible if we lead a very health life style with a regime of daily exercise for atleast 30 mintues a day and also eating the right kind of food to include plenty of vegtables and decreasing high fat diet.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is a type of Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy

Though quite often the condition occurs in the second and third trimester it is not uncommon to find women devolping Diabetes even first trimester.

How can you look for Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is diagnosed by way of Oral Glucose tolerance test

What are the risk factors Gestational Diabetes

History of over weight or obese

Family history of Diabetes

A previous of history a large infant

A past history of Gestational Diabetes

An unexplained miscarriage or if you are of South Asian origin 

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is a condition where your body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin. This condition is usually a life long problem and requires insulin for treatment from the very beginning.

Type I Diabetes is more common in younger people but with improving treatment more and more people who are ederly have learnt to live and cope very well with this condition.

The Week Health Cover Story 'Earlier the better'

Diabetes and the heart
Earlier, the better

By Dr D.K. Sriram
Indians are known to have a predilection for heart disease and the prevalence of diabetes is an important risk factor. What is worrisome is that this trend of increased incidence of heart disease seems to be occurring at a young age. The sight of patients in their thirties and forties being wheeled into the emergency room with chest pain has become common.
The reasons for this rather dramatic increased risk include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, dietary factors, lack of exercise and other genetic factors that give rise to an exaggerated effect in Indians when compared to other races. It is postulated that our genetic makeup, used to a more frugal diet, has yet to adapt to the change in dietary habit to high fat and carbohydrate food.
The need of the hour is an increased awareness of the risks, especially in patients with diabetes. In dealing with such patients, a review of associated risks and adequate medication and lifestyle modification is important. Current evidence points to a large number of patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes, who have not had tests to confirm the diagnosis and allow early intervention of the disease process. We also have good evidence to suggest that if we deal with the associated risk factors such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels in diabetes adequately, then we find a significant decrease in the development of heart disease and other complications. This timely intervention will result in a healthier society with lesser need for invasive and expensive management at a later date.
The author is consultant diabetologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.

First Apollo insulin pump clinic kicks off

By Express News Service - CHENNAI

Published: 12th September 2013 07:25 AM

Last Updated: 12th September 2013 07:25 AM

• Photos

• 
  Dr S Venkataraman, Dr TS Boochandran, Prof Dr D Shantaram, Dr D K Sriram and Dr Jayashree Gopal during the launch. (Express photo)

Diet and Diabetes

One of the most effective tools you have to keep your blood glucose in     the target range is your diet. What you eat, how much, and when has a big impact on your glucose levels.










  Basic Guidelines for Diet Control of Blood Glucose:

   1. Eat three meals a day and snacks spaced in long spans.
   2. Do not skip meals.
   3. Eat your meals and planned snacks about the same time every day, just as   you take your medication.
     4. Eat a consistent amount of carbohydrates at each meal and snack, and distribute carbohydrates evenly throughout the day.
    5. It is important to be mindful of what you eat, and the effect it has on your blood glucose by testing before and after meals.

  

Composition of Food

Here is a mini-lesson in Nutrition 101. Food is made of three components— fat, protein and carbohydrate. Each of these has different effects on blood glucose.

Fats, oily substances like oil, mayonnaise, cream, butter and avocado, do not raise blood glucose. In fact, fats slow stomach emptying and so decrease the rate at which blood glucose rises after a mixed meal. Protein, such as meat, poultry, fish, cheese, eggs, tofu, etc. cause the blood sugar to rise slightly, and also slows this rise because of length of digestion time.

Carbohydrates are all the sweets, starches, fruits, vegetables and milk/yogurt foods. 

These foods are responsible for an increase in blood glucose, which activates insulin release. Carefully controlling your intake of certain portions of carbohydrate will keep your blood glucose on target. Your meal plan will have a defined amount of carbohydrate for you to eat each day.

What about Fiber?

Dietary fiber is a source of carbohydrate. Fiber is found in plant-based food like fruit, vegetables, legumes, peas, brown rice, whole-grain breads and cereals. Fiber is not digested or absorbed like other starches, and so has less of an effect on increasing blood sugars. The recommendation is to eat 20-35 grams of fiber a day.

There are two kinds of fiber. Insoluble fiber is roughage–bran, skins and seeds, vegetables and cereal. This kind of fiber promotes regularity by adding bulk to bowel movements, slows digestion to aid in weight loss and blood glucose control, and helps prevent intestinal disorders and reduces the risk of intestinal cancers. Soluble fiber is the part of the plant material which absorbs water and dissolves in the digestive system. Oat bran, barley, legumes and fruit are high in soluble fiber. This fiber also works to moderate blood glucose, reduce cholesterol, triglycerides and lower LDL cholesterol.

Example of Fiber on the Label

      Fiber is listed on a Nutrition Facts panel in a food label under the Total  Carbohydrate. The number listed is part of the total carbohydrate. A good portion of the fiber in a food goes undigested, so the impact in calories and glucose rise is minimal. Rule of thumb—if there is more than 5 grams of fiber per serving in a food item, you can subtract half the fiber from the total carbohydrate to get a more accurate representation of the available carbohydrate in the food.