Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized primarily by defective glucose metabolism resulting in raised blood glucose or blood sugar values, a condition known as Hyperglycemia. The underlying cause being absence or lack of insulin production by the pancreas or inability of the body to effectively use the insulin produced, a condition called Insulin Resistance.
According to WHO reports, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Almost 95% of diabetic patients are reportedly suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.
Due to defective glucose metabolism resulting in poor blood flow and nerve damage, Diabetes can affect vital organs like the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves leading to permanent vision loss, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Other health problems like cataracts, erectile dysfunction, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases are more likely to affect diabetic patients. Foot ulcers leading to limb amputation is another grave condition associated with diabetes.
Diseases Associated with Diabetes
Diabetes and Eye Health
- Diabetic Retinopathy: High levels of blood glucose compromise the blood and oxygen supply to the eyes damaging the small blood vessels. This can result in blood and fluid leak from the small blood vessels of the retina, a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy causing vision loss or blindness.
- Cataract: A condition resulting from loss of a protein in the lens of eyes making the lens cloudy leading to vision loss. Generally, an old age-related disease, Cataract can happen early in diabetic patients.
- Glaucoma: To compensate for the compromised blood and oxygen supply formation of newer small blood vessels may happen in the eyes. However, these blood vessels can block the fluid drainage of the eye and result in increased eye pressure leading to the condition called Glaucoma which can progress to partial or complete vision loss.
Diabetes and Cardiac Health
High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves of the heart exposing the person to a high risk of cardiac problems including:
- High blood pressure or hypertension
- Increased Low Density Lipoproteins (Bad cholesterol), High triglycerides and low High-Density Lipoproteins (good cholesterol) increasing the risk of coronary artery diseases and stroke.
Diabetes and Kidney Health
Diabetic Nephropathy: high blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the kidneys leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has CKD.
Diabetes and Nerve Damage
Diabetic Neuropathy: Nerve damage can cause health problems ranging from mild numbness to pain that makes it hard to do normal activities. Pain or increased sensitivity in hands, feet, legs, and arms, especially at night. Further, this gets worsened to Numbness or weakness and Later Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and bone and joint pain.
Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
Damage to blood and nerve supply resulting from high blood sugar can result in Erectile Dysfunction. This may be worsened by high blood pressure and heart disease. This can have serious implications on the sexual life.
Diabetes and Infectious Diseases
Our immune system defends us against infectious diseases. The main role in this mechanism is played by the white blood cells. Like any other cells of the body, the white blood cells are also put under stress due to high levels of blood glucose wanting them to work harder to defend against infections. Many researches have established changes including suppression of cytokine production, defects in phagocytosis, dysfunction of immune cells, and failure to kill microbes in diabetic patients which increases susceptibility to infections. Further, inflammation of the internal organs which happens with chronic diabetes further weakens the immune system. Thus, a diabetic patient is more vulnerable to getting infections especially respiratory, urinary, and skin infections which will also take longer to recover.
Diabetes and Mental Health
The burden of Diabetes and other associated health problems can have an implication on mental health by disturbing the family and vocational life. This may result in Diabetes Distress.
Prevention and Control of Diabetic Complications
Primordial Prevention
This includes measures to minimize the development of risk factors of Diabetes including overweight and obesity. This includes promotion of healthy nutritional habits and physical exercise.
Primary Prevention
This part aims at the high-risk group having risk factors like Obesity, Sedentary lifestyle, and genetic predisposition. This also includes lifestyle modifications including healthy nutritional habits and physical exercise for weight management; Abstinence from addictions like alcohol and tobacco; and stress management.
Secondary Prevention
This includes early detection and prompt treatment and routine monitoring to prevent and delay the complications. Self-care also has a crucial role in secondary prevention. Adherence to diet and medical regimes, recognition of symptoms and routine checkups and monitoring is the key to prevent complications.
Tertiary Prevention
The main aim is to prevent the disabilities which may happen due to diabetic complications like blindness, kidney failure, ulcer care etc.
Role of Ayurveda in Diabetes and Related Diseases
Ayurveda classics have elaborated the role of diet, medicines, and exercise in effective management of diabetes. Ayurveda has been integrated with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) and implemented in Surendranagar (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), and Bhilwara (Rajasthan) to provide integrative treatment for noncommunicable disease. Research has established the role of Ayurvedic dietary interventions and medicines like Guduchi, Amalaki, Mammajwa etc in treating diabetes and preventing associated complications.
Ayush-82 is a formulation for treating diabetes, developed by CCRAS, and commercialized via National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi. Another formulation, BGR34, collectively developed by CSIR-CIMAP and CSIR-NBRI is found effective in treatment of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a common yet serious medical condition in the current scenario. It is not just Diabetes, but the associated diseases call for serious attention to prevent mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and treatment, routine monitoring and active self-care by the patient are the keys for effective prevention and control of diabetes. Many research evidences are available establishing the role of Ayurveda in the treatment of diabetes and associated diseases. Let’s sugar not be a reason for worry.