Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body has high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. For the most part, diabetes works like this: the body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it properly, or cells become insulin resistant and don't respond to insulin. These things cause glucose to build up in the bloodstream instead of getting into cells.

Diabetes is caused due to poor blood glucose control. It is a condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high. Diabetes can cause serious, life-threatening complications if left untreated.

The causes of diabetes mellitus include a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors like obesity, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Insufficient production and release of the hormone insulin by the pancreas lead to glucose building up in the bloodstream.

Foot Care Tips For Diabetic Patients During Monsoon

The monsoon season is here, and it brings joy to soggy and gloomy cities like Mumbai, with the return of sunshine and greenery.

Monsoon affects your toes in ways you might not expect. We are not just talking about the obvious consequence of standing in flooded streets or walking through puddles. We are talking about the infections caused by bacteria that can cost you heavily, especially if you are a diabetic patient.

For people suffering from diabetes, the rainy season is the worst time of the year. The high humidity and high temperature can affect their diabetic status.

High Humidity: During monsoon, humidity level increases due to the rains and other factors like heavy winds, which may further increase the exposure to moisture. But, this may also cause problems like fungal infections in the feet which is common among many diabetic patients.

Changing Blood Sugar Level: Blood sugar levels may fluctuate due to the changing weather conditions and food habits. Hence, diabetic patients need to be extra cautious during this monsoon season as changes in their blood sugar levels can cause neuropathy and other infections in the feet.

Diabetes can have a serious impact on the feet, especially during monsoon. So it is important to take extra steps to prevent the risk of infection to the feet. This monsoon, make sure your feet stay healthy and strong, and never have to face any problems due to corns, cuts, cracked heels etc.

Here are some useful tips to take care of your feet:

Always keep your hands and feet clean by washing them with soap and water, especially after going to the bathroom or before going to bed.

Wear warm socks when going outdoors under rainy conditions. Change your socks often and dry them thoroughly and wear comfortable shoes that form a good seal around your heel and leave enough room for thick socks.

Avoid walking barefoot in public places such as roads and bus stands. Use shoes or slippers to avoid any injury to your feet.

Provide a dry and clean environment for your feet at home too. Don't place shoes near the bed and do remember to wash them once a week at least.

Dry, cracked heels can be painful and increase your risk for infection. But with a little extra care, you can avoid them or slow their development. Use lotion on your feet every day to keep the skin soft and moist.

Keeping your feet cool by wearing sandals may help prevent cracking as well. If you have to wear closed shoes, consider using a powder on your heels to absorb excess moisture before it can cause cracks.

Use a pumice stone or a foot-massaging tool every two weeks to keep calluses under control.

Health Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive and serious disease that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin and/or when the body cells fail to react to insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that encourages the cellular metabolism of glucose to be used for energy, rather than stored as fat. The pancreas is responsible for secreting different hormones like glucagon, somatostatin and insulin.

Insulin is also known as the anti-diabetes hormone. It is a regulatory hormone that helps in the absorption of glucose from the blood into the various cells of the body.

The kidneys react to the glucose overload by dumping large amounts of extra sugar into the urine, and over time, all this extra sugar can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.

Diabetes is one of the major risk factors associated with cancer. According to some studies about 18 percent of all cancers are linked to diabetes. This holds true for oral cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and esophageal cancer, which are major forms of cancer that can occur in diabetics.

In India, diabetes mellitus is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as well.

Diabetes can be treated and controlled by following a healthy diet and lifestyle along with insulin and other medications. You must also have regular checkups to monitor your blood glucose levels and make necessary changes in your medication to control it. This will help in preventing any complications associated with diabetes and will also help you in living a healthy life.

Take Away

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are elevated due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Diabetes can lead to several complications, including heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure, lower limb amputation and dementia.

The symptoms of diabetes depend upon many factors like the duration of the disease, the cause of the disease and whether it is associated with another medical condition such as obesity.

The most common treatment for diabetes includes taking medications as well as changing your diet, exercise patterns and lifestyle.