Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. India is deemed as the world’s diabetes capital, with an estimated 60 million people suffering from the disease.
Adults with diabetes have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Other possible complications include kidney failure, leg amputation, vision loss and nerve damage.
While there is no way to prevent type 2 diabetes, the starting point to living well with diabetes is an early diagnosis. A series of cost-effective interventions can improve patient outcomes, regardless of what type of diabetes they may have. These interventions include blood glucose control, through a combination of diet, physical activity and, if necessary, medication; control of blood pressure and lipids to reduce cardiovascular risk and other complications; and regular screening for damage to the eyes, kidneys and feet, to facilitate early treatment.