Diabetes Mellitus, also known as diabetes, is a condition wherein the blood contains higher than normal sugar or glucose levels. In a healthy person’s body, the glucose from the food is absorbed into the bloodstream and then enters the cells of the body to take the form of energy. This happens with the support of a chemical known as insulin. But a diabetes patient’s body fails to produce insulin or enough amounts insulin. As a result, the sugar or glucose compounds do not get digested into the body cells, but instead, remain in the bloodstream itself. This can potentially cause life threatening complications and this condition is known as diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes. The condition of high blood sugar levels is the same, but the cause of these conditions is the key differentiator.

• Type 1 diabetes – Type 1 Diabetes is genetic, and hence, usually not preventable.
• Type 2 diabetes – Type 2 Diabetes when the body stops responding to insulin because of an unhealthy lifestyle. It is a lifestyle disorder.

• Type 1 diabetes - The cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown, but the chances are higher when you have a familial history or even another type of autoimmune disorder. This type can occur at any age, but people typically develop this disease as children.
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes - Obesity, high amounts of cholesterol caused by higher intake of fatty foods, or high blood pressure – when these are coupled with a lack of enough exercise and fitness measures, the body’s response capacity towards insulin reduces. Increased amounts of alcohol intake and habits like smoking can also be instrumental in this condition. It has been seen that stress and hypertension also aggravate this condition. And that’s why it’s generally seen that people above the age of 40 tend to develop this condition more than younger people, primarily because of their lifestyle over a period of time. Additionally, if your parents have Type 2 diabetes, you may have an increased risk of developing the condition. More than 90% of all diabetes patients have Type 2 diabetes.

The symptoms of diabetes depend on the amount of sugar in your blood. Pre-diabetes stage of type 2 diabetes may show symptoms gradually, while the symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to be more pronounced and the onset is much quicker.

Some symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth
• Extreme hunger pangs
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Frequent urination
• Slow healing of wounds
• Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections

• Type 1 diabetes – Risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:

1. Family history: Individuals who have a parent or a sibling with type 1 diabetes, will have a greater risk of developing the condition.
2. Genes: The presence of certain genes increases the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
3. Age
4. Unhealthy diet/lifestyle
5. Smoking & Alcohol consumption

• Type 2 diabetes – Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:

1. Obesity
2. Unhealthy diet
3. Physical inactivity
4. Having a relative with type 2 diabetes
5. High Blood Pressure
6. High Cholesterol
7. Smoking and alcohol consumption
8. Age (risk increases with age)

Although diabetes is a long-term condition, with the right lifestyle, this condition can be effectively managed and controlled without impacting one’s daily routine. MedsNow offers a range of medicines for managing the condition. These include:

• Eucreas
• Sukkarto SR
• Gliclazide
• Gliclazide MR
• Metformin
• Glucophage SR
• Januvia
• Janumet
• Competact
• Onglyza
• Forxiga
• Jentadueto
• Jardiance
• Komboglyze
• Invokana
• Vipidia
• Vipoemet
• Xigduo
• Vokanamet
• Trajenta
• Accu-chek Performa Test Strips
• Accu-chek Mobile Test Cassette
• Glucorx Nexus 50 Test Strips

Diabetes medications can have certain side effects like: 

• Low blood sugar, 
• Upset stomach, 
• Skin rash or itching, 
• Weight gain, 
• Sickness with alcohol, 
• Kidney complications, 
• Upset stomach, 
• Tiredness or dizziness, 
• Metal taste, 
• Gas, bloating, and 
• Diarrhea

• Type 1 diabetes: Since the symptoms are more pronounced in the case of type 1 diabetes, you must visit your GP right away. He will perform blood or urine tests to diagnose the disease. If the type of diabetes is unclear, he may recommend further tests like Ketone testing, GAD antibodies testing and C-peptide testing.
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes: In most cases, this diabetes is discovered when the patient performs blood or urine tests for some other disease. But if you are experiencing symptoms, you must visit your GP and discuss them in detail with him.

1. Can diabetes go away?

   Type 2 diabetes can be reversed through diet changes and weight loss. Online doctors can prescribe weight loss medicines after tracking your medical history. You can reach normal blood sugar levels.

2. What health problems can people with diabetes develop?

   People with high blood sugar levels are at a higher risk of developing the following diseases too:

   • heart disease
   • stroke
   • kidney disease
   • eye problems
   • dental disease
   • nerve damage
   • foot problems

3. What food causes diabetes?

   Highly processed carbohydrates like white flour, white rice, and white sugar; sugar-sweetened and carbonated drinks, saturated and trans fats like baked and fried foods; and red and processed meats are known to increase the risk of diabetes. 

4. Is diabetes 1 or 2 worse?

   Type 2 diabetes is generally milder than type 1 diabetes, but it can differ from person to person. Since type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, it increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

5. Can diabetics eat bananas?

   Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for diabetes patients if taken in moderation as per their individual balanced diet plan.

6. Is diabetes my fault?

   There are many causes that can be attributed to type 2 diabetes. While obesity can be due to lifestyle and diet choices, there could be other factors which affect it too like stress, BMI in the obese range, genetics, etc.

7. Can diabetes go away if you lose weight?

   If obesity is the primary reason for your diabetes condition, then it is possible that the condition may go away with weight loss.

8. Is falling asleep after eating a sign of diabetes?

   A common symptom of diabetes is fatigue, loss of energy and tiredness. And hence, a diabetic person may feel better when they rest.

9. Can you live a normal life with type 2 diabetes?

   If type 2 diabetes is managed well with lifestyle modifications, a healthy diet, regular exercise and medication, the patient can have a normal life expectancy just like a healthy person.

10. Can diabetes be cured by exercise?

    Certain patients have experienced a reversal of type 2 diabetes with regular exercise.

11. How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?

    Dry mouth and increased thirst, frequent need to urinate and fatigue are the common markers of high blood sugar.

12. Can diabetics die in their sleep?

    Dead in bed syndrome is a condition in which a diabetic patient dies in their sleep due to a sudden drop in blood sugar levels. One in 20 diabetics can be affected by such a condition.

13. How many meals a day should a diabetic eat?

    Diabetic patients who eat multiple smaller meals during the day as compared to two or three big meals find it more conducive to the hunger pangs which diabetes causes. Additionally, it also prevents a sudden increase in their blood sugar levels after a single large meal.

14. Can diabetes wake you up at night?

    Low blood sugar can affect your sleep at night, cause sweating, or difficulty waking up in the morning. It can also lead to fatigue and tiredness throughout the day.

15. Can fasting reverse diabetes?

    Several research studies have shown that fasting can improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels, which can reverse diabetes. However, it is best to practice fasting under the guidance of an expert.

16. Should diabetics eat before bed?

    Diabetics are told to eat a bedtime snack which can help control blood sugar levels. However, there isn’t enough scientific research to back this claim, and neither is the kind of ideal snack to eat at bedtime.

17. How many hours of sleep do diabetics need?

    To get enough rest for combatting the fatigue caused by the condition. Doctors recommend 7-hour sleep on average for diabetic patients.

18. Can diabetics donate blood?

    Diabetics with healthy blood sugar levels can donate blood.

19. Can diabetes affect your thinking?

    Patients who have diabetes tend to have a greater risk of thinking and memory problems as their age advances.

20. How can I quickly lower my blood sugar?

    Controlling your carb intake and increasing fibre intake, exercising regularly and staying hydrated and controlling your stress levels, are some of the different ways of lowering your blood sugar level.

21. Do diabetics get tired after eating?

    Patients who suffer from hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar levels) or hypoglycemia (decreased blood sugar levels) may feel tired after eating.

22. What vitamins are good for diabetics?

    Vitamin B-1 is known to be good for diabetics.

23. What should I eat if my sugar is high?

    Cooked vegetables, greens, whole foods, fibers, melons and berries, protein and low-calorie drinks are the few foods which are good to take if the sugar is high.

24. Can diabetes cause anger?

    Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can contribute to changes in moods and irritability, causing a diabetic person to get angry.

25. What does a diabetic attack feel like?

    A person undergoing a diabetic attack may experience weakness and fatigue, dizziness or a feeling of hunger. 

26. Does diabetes affect your skin?

    If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop dry skin.

27. How do you feel when your sugar is low?

    A person with low blood sugar experiences excessive sweating, nervousness and dizziness, extreme hunger, blurred vision, and a feeling of anxiety.

28. What is the sugar level of a normal person?

    Blood sugar levels for a normal healthy person are between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) when fasting and up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating.

29. What is the best thing to eat when your blood sugar is low?

    Fruits, whole wheat crackers, yogurt or a glass of milk are good food choices for people suffering from a temporary low blood sugar attack.

30. Why is Diabetes a silent killer?

    Diabetes leads to increased blood sugar levels which can lead to life threatening complications like cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, weak eyesight and more. That’s why it’s known as a silent killer.

31. What is a bad blood sugar reading?

    Bad blood sugar reading means that the patient’s blood sugar levels are not in the normal range of 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) when fasting and up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating.

32. Does diabetes damage the heart?

    High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing heart disease. The longer you have diabetes, the greater is the chance of developing heart complications.