What to do when you're diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes : Sweet Clinics

Understanding type 2 diabetes
Diabetes develops when your blood sugar is too high.

Why does diabetes occur?
Diabetes develops when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.

A hormone called insulin helps glucose from food get into your cells and be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough (or any) insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can starve your cells and harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, and heart.

What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is also called “adult onset” diabetes, since it typically develops after age 35 (though a growing number of younger people are now developing type 2 diabetes.)

How is diabetes diagnosed?
To diagnose diabetes, your doctor may order a blood test called Fasting Plasma Glucose. These blood tests are done in the morning on an empty stomach. Glucose levels above a certain point on more than one occasion indicate diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?
Often, type 2 diabetes is associated with being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle, so treatment focuses on diet and exercise. If lifestyle changes don’t control your blood sugar, then your doctor will recommend medications to help your body use its own insulin more efficiently.

Warning symptoms
If you have type 2 diabetes and have symptoms such as confusion, weakness, or extremely high blood sugar, get medical help immediately. These symptoms may mean that you have a life-threatening condition.

Finding the right care
Start by seeing your primary care doctor.

Get regular preventive care
If you have diabetes, plan to see your primary care doctor at least once a year for checkups that include regular blood sugar tests, blood pressure checks, foot examinations for nerve and artery disease, and diabetes education.

Your primary care doctor will also make sure you get annual flu and pneumonia vaccines. Diabetes Care Centre Vashi People with diabetes are at greater risk for complications from these illnesses, so these are especially important.

See a specialist if you need help managing your condition
If you have difficulty controlling your diabetes, you should also see an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in diabetes) once or twice a year for more specialized care. An endocrinologist can teach you about new advances in diabetes care and advise you on the best way to control your blood sugar.

Don’t skip annual vision and dental exams
Because diabetes can cause damage to the retina, people with diabetes should visit an eye doctor for regular (annual) eye exams.

Because high blood sugar can increase your risk for cavities and gum disease, it’s important to have regular dentist check-ups (every 6 months to one year) and tell your dentist that you have diabetes.

Choosing a treatment plan
To control diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood glucose levels.

Treating diabetes
Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on several factors, but the main factor is the level of your blood sugar and how stable it is over time. For example, people with “well-controlled” diabetes (blood sugars less than 150 mg/dL) are often able to manage diabetes with diet and exercise and/or medication. Others who have high blood sugar levels (greater than 200 mg/dL) and other complications, despite medication, may need more specialized treatments and medications like insulin injections.

Monitor and manage diabetes
People with diabetes need regular blood tests called Hemoglobin A1c tests. These check average blood sugar levels over the course of three months. Frequency will depend on the severity of your condition, but four tests per year are typical.

If you have trouble controlling your diabetes or have complications from diabetes, you may need home monitoring to check your own blood sugar frequently. Your doctor will tell you how often, but you may need to check multiple times per day.

If you have symptoms of decreased blood flow, are over 50 years of age, have high blood pressure, or smoke, you may also receive an ankle-brachial index test. This test checks if enough blood is flowing to the legs.

Do You Have Diabetes? Here Are 5 Ways To Protect Your Eye Health

Diabetic retinopathy is a frequent complication of diabetes. An elevation in blood sugar can damage the delicate blood vessels inside the eye, causing them to leak, bleed and become blocked. The damage from diabetic retinopathy is usually permanent. Diabetes can also contribute to changes in nearsightedness, farsightedness and premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects with age). The disease may also contribute to the onset of cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus (lack of eye alignment) and decreased corneal sensitivity.

Maintaining control of your diabetes is crucial. Regular visits to your physician are necessary, along with adherence to your doctor’s instructions on diet, exercise and medication. Following the right steps to maintaining your diabetes can greatly reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Protect your eye health. Follow the tips below to take care of your eyes if you have diabetes.

SCHEDULE REGULAR, COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMS.

Talk to your Midwest Eye Consultants optometrist about how often you should schedule a dilated eye exam. This type of exam allows for better visualization of the retinas, which can give an indication of the presence of a diabetic eye condition. Our doctors can handle your changing eyes with new glasses or contact lenses. In some cases, surgical procedures may be necessary.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

Are you monitoring your blood sugar regularly? Exercising, eating healthy, taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor and monitoring blood sugar regularly are all great steps to controlling your blood sugar and living a healthy lifestyle. According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association), people with uncontrolled blood sugar levels are four times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy.

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE & CHOLESTEROL

Changes in the retina can be due to high blood pressure. This condition is called hypertensive retinopathy. This condition can lead to blockage of retinal arteries or veins, which can ultimately result in the loss of vision. Your doctor will look for tiny cholesterol-containing plaques in the retinal blood vessels as well as other blood vessel changes like narrowing and thickening. Make sure you are monitoring your blood pressure and taking care of your health; cut back on caffeine, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, reduce sodium in your diet, and see your doctor regularly.

EAT FOR YOUR EYES.

Use the diabetes plate method for healthy meals. Fill half of your plate with watery veggies like kale, spinach, cucumber, brussels sprouts or broccoli. One quarter of your plate should be reserved for meat, fish, poultry, tofu, eggs, nuts or other foods high in protein. Reserve one quarter for breads, starches or grains which includes dry beans and starchy vegetables. Fill one small cup with milk or yogurt and one small cup with fruit, applesauce, or fruit juice. Use healthy fats in small amounts for cooking or include nuts, seeds or avocados. Eating healthy foods will help prevent the conditions that come with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy.

GET REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

Exercise is considered an integral part of diabetes therapy. Not only does exercise improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, it helps with flexibility and well-being. However, you should discuss with your doctor to develop an exercise regimen that works for you. For example, patients who have had significant eye complications caused by diabetes are advised to avoid contact sports that could injure the eye further. Moderate-intensity activity, like walking or bicycling, are great options for exercise.

Take care of your eyes. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam today at Best Diabetes eye Care clinic in Vashi and follow these tips to prevent diabetic retinopathy from affecting your life. 

Little Known Ways to DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT | Sweet Clinics

Diabetes Self-Management Tips

Overseeing diabetes doesn't mean never enjoying nourishments you appreciate, which is the reason you'll discover more than 900 diabetes-accommodating plans on this blog. Diabetes Self-Management additionally offers posts about item surveys, sustenance, dinner arranging, and exercise, in addition to apparatuses for checking carbs, arranging exercises, and substantially more.

Tip #1 – Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods

Aim to eat mostly fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, low-fat dairy products, and lean meat, poultry, fish or meat alternatives. Developing a plan with a registered dietitian knowledgeable about diabetes-specific nutrition is a good idea, especially if you’re just starting out.
You might also consider the Diabetes Plate Method, which is a visual way to make sure each meal is diabetic-friendly. Here’s how it works:
Half your plate should have non-starchy vegetables
One-quarter of your plate should have whole grain or starchy foods
One-quarter of your plate should have with lean proteins
Depending on your meal plan and calorie needs, you can include fruit and low-fat dairy on the side.

Tip #2 – Follow a consistent meal plan and schedule 

Some people with diabetes need to eat at about the same time each day, while others can be more flexible with the timing. A lot depends on whether you have type 1 or 2 diabetes, how well it’s controlled if you’re on medication, and if you take insulin. Depending on your diabetes medication or type of insulin, you may need to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at the same time each day.

It’s critical to understand your specific needs by talking to your healthcare professional. Then, be careful to follow their instructions.

Tip #3 – Develop an exercise routine

Physical activity is an important part of managing your blood glucose level. The American Diabetes Association recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity that increases the heart rate five days per week. Exercise and weight loss have been shown to decrease certain risk factors associated with diabetes, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In addition, over time, physical activity can allow for improved blood flow and decreased risk for stroke and other associated heart diseases.
However, before you start, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re healthy enough for physical activity. They can also decide the best time of day for you to exercise. If you take insulin, you need to balance your activity with your insulin doses and meals so you don’t get low blood glucose.

Tip #4 – Check your blood sugar as directed

If you need to test your blood sugar, be sure to follow the instructions from your healthcare provider regarding frequency and time of day. This information may identify blood sugar patterns, which can help your healthcare team adjust your treatment.
Always check your blood sugar if you have high blood sugar symptoms (thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision). You should do the same for low blood sugar symptoms (lightheadedness, dizzy, confusion, sweating, shaking, fast or pounding heartbeat). Remember to immediately take a simple carbohydrate like fruit juice or glucose tablets.

Tip #5 – Ask for the right tests and checkups

A critical part of managing diabetes is getting routine tests and checkups that can spot problems early so you can avoid potential complications. Strive to be an active participant in your  Diabetes Care Centre Vashi, keeping track of results and asking questions to make sure diabetes complications aren’t developing.

A1C test – This blood test measures your average blood sugar levels over the previous two or three months, which indicates how well your blood sugar is being controlled.

Blood pressure checks – Diabetes can cause high blood pressure, which increases stroke and heart attack risk. Have your blood pressure checked every time you see your primary care doctor.

Cholesterol test – Diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease, so be sure to have a blood test to check your cholesterol annually (more frequently if it’s already high).

Foot exam – Get a complete foot exam at every office visit to test your reflexes and check your feet for calluses, infections, sores, and loss of feeling.

Eye exam – Get a yearly eye exam from an ophthalmologist for early signs of glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.

Kidney test – High blood glucose can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys over time. You should get tested every year for kidney disease if you have type 2 diabetes have had type 1 diabetes for more than five years.

Dental exam – See your dentist for a regular cleaning every six months and keep up with self-care like flossing and brushing daily.

Identifying and Treating Diabetes Joint Pain | Sweet Clinics

Diabetes and joint pain

Diabetes and joint pain are considered to be independent conditions. Joint pain may be a response to an illness, injury, or arthritis. It can be chronic (long-term) or acute (short-term). Diabetes is caused by the body not using the hormone insulin correctly, or insufficient production of it, which affects blood sugar levels. What would a hormone and blood sugar-related condition have to do with joint health?

Diabetes is associated with widespread symptoms and complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source, 47 percent of people with arthritis also have diabetes. There is an undeniably strong link between the two conditions.

Understanding diabetic arthropathy

Diabetes can damage joints, a condition called diabetic arthropathy. Unlike pain caused by immediate trauma, the pain of arthropathy happens over time. Other symptoms include:

• thick skin
• changes in the feet
• painful shoulders
• carpal tunnel syndrome

A joint is the place where two bones come together. Once a joint wears down, the protection it provides is lost. Joint pain from diabetic arthropathy comes in different forms.

Diabetes & Knee Replacement Surgery: What You Need to Know..? | Sweet Clinics

Leading a diabetic life is by no means an easy task; add to that the need of a knee replacement surgery can at times create a lot of confusion. If you are reading this article chances are you or someone you know has diabetes and want to know if a TKR safe for diabetic, will there be post surgery complications. In this article we hope to address most of the misconceptions surrounding knee replacement for diabetics and what can be done to prevent pre & post surgery trauma.Firstly, it’s important to know advancements in knee replacement surgery has come a long way. In the early days when a incision in the muscle was required to reach the joint replacement, which also required blood transfusion. Consequently, the recovery was painful and took about a month to recover. However, with the latest Painless and Minimal-Stitch knee replacement surgery most normal patients start walking on the same day and are back to normal life in a week’s time. This surgery is safe for diabetic patients aswell as long as it is performed under the guidance of experienced knee replacement surgeon and certain pre and post operative parameters are met.So let’s get down to it.

How does Diabetes Affect Joint Replacement Surgery?
Surgery and anesthesia used during a surgery creates an inflammation in the operated region initiates an autoimmune response by the body by the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, glucagon and other hormones. In patients with uncontrolled diabetes this can increases insulin resistance and glucose levels in the body. This can trigger significant hyperglycemia and can lead to deep tissue infection. Eventually, affecting surgical outcomes.Any surgical procedure no matter how safe puts immense stress on the human body. Diabetic patients inherently have weakened immune system, muscles and body tissues. This weakness affects the overall recovery post surgery.

Pre- Knee Replacement Surgery Measures for Diabetes patients?
“Being fully prepared for a surgery is half the battle won”.

We cannot emphasis enough on this, when it comes to diabetic & Hyperglycemic patients. Be it type-1 or type-2 diabetes a rigorous pre-op regime has to be laid out depending on the patients medical history with the objective of controlling diabetes and reducing risks.

Medical Management: When you first visit your orthopaedic a detailed screening for Diabetes and related co-morbid conditions is important. Accordingly, working with your diabetologist a plan is put in place to prepare you and your body for the surgery is important. This might require medical management of blood sugar levels and any other problems like high blood pressure, renal impairment etc. these need to be brought to stable levels to go ahead for surgery. Apart from medical management your doctor might suggest certain diet and physiotherapy to prepare for the surgery.

Diet: Type-2 diabetes is primarily a lifestyle disease and controlling your diet to reduce your HbA1c level (levels around 8% or less should suffice) plays a vital role in surgical outcomes. So what should your diet include… foods which are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties are essential to help mange surgical (inflammatory) stress on the body. Its highly recommended to consult a surgical dietitian who can help you get the best diet to prepare for a knee surgery.

Exercise: This is something which is suggested to even normal patients. Diabetics, generally have weak muscles, its critical to undergo muscle strengthening program before surgery. Studies have shown that pre-op exercise significantly eases and reduces recovery period. When you undergo knee replacement surgery under Dr. Shailendra Patil our Physiotherapist helps you with a home exercise program before and after surgery.

Post- Knee Replacement Surgery Measures for Diabetes patients?
Post surgery a diabetic patient with most parameters in control can start walking within a day or two. The medical management of diabetic and co-morbid conditions continue to avoid any post surgery complications, that may arise. The exercise and diet plan continues for a few months until the patient is back to his normal life.So as you have read by now that diabetic patients can undergo knee replacement surgery in a safe manner as long as it is done under professional care by your Knee surgeon and diabetologist. Especially minimally invasive techniques which involves less cutting and sticking and handling of tissue makes surgery and recovery very smooth, even diabetic patient's don’t get any healing problems post surgery. 

All You Wanted to Know About Diabetes: A Scientific Elucidation |Sweet Clinics

WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, or sugar, which are oxidised by our tissues to produce energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, secretes a hormone called insulin. Insulin pumps in glucose from our blood into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. There is no diabetes cure developed so far.

HOW BLOOD SUGAR IS NORMALLY CONTROLLED IN OUR BODY?
The Blood Sugar is tightly regulated between 70 to 110mg/dL in fasting state and 100 to 140mg/dL in post meal state. At any random state Blood Sugar is maintained below 180 mg/dL. This is done by the balanced action of some hormones; some of which tend to increase blood sugar while some tend to decrease.Hormones that increase blood sugar are Glucagon, steroids, Adrenaline, Somatostatin, Thyroid hormones, Growth Hormone etc.

The only hormone that reduces blood sugar is the INSULIN. Whenever there is a tendency of the blood sugar to rise above the permissible level, Insulin is secreted from the pancreas and the sugar from the blood is pushed inside the cells by insulin and the balance is achieved.

WHAT IS INSULIN?
Insulin is a protein hormone secreted from Pancreas. It is released from pancreas in two patterns.A constant secretion of insulin takes place throughout the day irrespective of meals which ensures that blood sugar in fasting state is under limits. This continuous Insulin secretion pattern is called the BASAL insulin.

On the top of this whenever there is any intake of food, Insulin senses the transient rise in blood sugar and is secreted in a pulsatile manner with each meals to bring down the post meal rise in blood sugar. This pulsatile pattern of Insulin release is called PRANDIAL Insulin.

When the doctors treat patients with insulin, they always try to match the above mentioned pattern of Insulin levels in the blood which is often difficult.

WHAT ARE MY RISKS FOR DEVELOPING DIABETES?
Roughly it can be extrapolated from researches on Diabetic genes that,

If your mother is Diabetic: You have 19% chances to develop diabetes
If your father is Diabetic: you have 14% chances to develop diabetes
If both the parents are Diabetic: You have 25% chances to develop diabetes
If your sister or brother is Diabetic: You have 75% chances of developing diabetes
If your twin is Diabetic: You have 99% chance of developing diabetes.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF DIABETES?

People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis. They might have SOME or NONE of the following diabetes symptoms

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme hunger
Sudden vision changes
Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
Feeling very tired much of the time
Very dry skin
Sores that are slow to heal
More infections than usual.
Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DIABETES?
Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, may account for about 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If not treated, it can cause problems for mothers and babies. Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 10% of all pregnancies but usually disappears when a pregnancy is over. Top Diabetes Doctors in Navi Mumbai

Other specific types of diabetes (like diabetes insipidus) resulting from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses may account for 1% to 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Diabetes And The Eye | Sweet Clinics

The Importance Of Eye Care For Diabetics

India has a problem with diabetes, and it’s getting worse. And that means serious problems for many people’s eyesight.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is diabetes-related damage to blood vessels that nourish the light-sensitive retina of the eye. This damage can occur from either type 1 or
type 2 diabetes, and the longer you have the disease, the greater your risk for vision problems. In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms. But as the condition progresses, the retina become swollen and blood vessels begin to leak fluid and blood into the interior of the eye, causing symptoms that include:

Blurred vision and/or poor night vision
Spots floating in your vision
Darks streaks that block your vision
Partial or significant vision loss
Though there are treatments that can help limit vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, early detection and timely treatment are critical. But the best cure is prevention.

What You Can Do

First of all, it’s important to know that though obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, you don’t have to be significantly overweight to develop the condition. Popular actor Tom Hanks’ recent announcement that he’s been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is proof of that. This month, during American Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month, make a point to actively encourage all patients and customers you come in contact with to:

Schedule a routine physical exam that includes a blood test to rule out diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Have a dilated eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to rule out early signs of diabetic eye disease.
It’s That Simple.
By helping people become more aware of the dangers of diabetes and take preventative steps to avoid the disease and its complications, you’ll be helping
others enjoy a greater quality of life…and you just might save someone’s eyesight.