DIABETES is spreading like wildfire. International Diabetes Federation estimates that Diabetes has already affected more than 50 million adults in India. The number of people expected to have diabetes by 2030 is around 87 million, according to the IDF Atlas published in October this year.

Diabetes is a devastating disease, both in terms of morbidity and economic burden. This is true for individuals as well as for society. The World Health Organisation has predicted net losses in national income from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases of 336.6 international dollars in India.

Diabetes is the leading cause for blindness, kidney failure and foot amputations, besides tremendously increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. Education and awareness are the only ways to tackle the huge threat posed by diabetes.

'Diabetes education and prevention' is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control.

There are many risk factors for type-II diabetes. They include, obesity and overweight, lack of exercise, previously identified glucose intolerance, unhealthy diet, increased age, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, a family history of diabetes and a history of gestational diabetes.

Understand diabetes

The warning signs of diabetes include, frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased hunger, weight loss, tiredness, lack of interest and concentration, vomiting and stomach pain, a tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slowhealing wounds, these can be mild or absent in people with type-II diabetes. If you show these signs, seek medical attention.

Evaluation and management

Diabetes is a lifelong disease characterised by high blood glucose levels. It may cause symptoms like increased urination, thirst, hunger and weight loss. It leads to various short-term problems like increased chance for infections and fatigue.

In the long term, it leads to various complications like eye disease (retinopathy), Kidney disease (nephropathy) and nerve disease (neuropathy). It also increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and foot ulcers.

Diabetes, however, can be very effectively managed. One needs to do three things in this regard; control blood glucose, look for and treat associated diseases and prevent or treat complications at the earliest. To achieve this, one need to know the complete status of the patient.

Three important diseases associated with diabetes are high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol (dyslipidaemia) and obesity.

These diseases increase the risk for complications tremendously.

We need to identify and manage these conditions effectively.

Complications or their chance should be identified at the earliest so that they are not allowed to cripple the patient in any way.