Srinagar, Nov 14 (KS): Kashmir is witnessing an uptick in diabetic population with the majority unaware they are diabetic, doctors said on Tuesday when World diabetes day was observed.
Dr Shariq Masoodi a noted endocrinologist told news agency Kashmir Scroll that diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
He said that there are three main types of diabetes that includes type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
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In all cases sugar builds up in bloodstream and this is because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin while both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may be caused by a combination of genetic or environmental factors.
Some symptoms of the diabetes include feeling more thirsty than usual, urinating often, losing weight without trying, presence of ketones in the urine, feeling tired and weak, feeling irritable or having other mood changes, hving blurry vision, having slow-healing sores, getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.
Dr Masoodi said that earlier there was misconception that diabetes is common only in Urban areas but now such cases are being reported everywhere.
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He said that the best way to prevent this disease is to eat healthy foods instead of ultra processed foods, get more physical activity and loose weight if you are obese.
Dr Shahnawaz Ahmad, an endocrinologist told Kashmir Scroll that half the people are unaware they suffer from diabetes and suggested that people with lifestyle diseases or family history of diabetes should undergo diabetic test.
“If you are above 35-year-old with obesity, hypertension, family history of diabetes, POCD, diabetes in pregnancy, one must at least once go for sugar test once in a year,” he said.
Terming diabetes a lifestyle disease, Dr Shahnawaz suggested people to take a daily brisk walk for 45 minutes and those suffering from obesity should reduce weight to avoid diabetes.
Another endocrinologist Dr Rafaqat told Kashmir Scroll that diabetes is a silent killer and its prevalence is increasing and weight reduction, dietary control, exercise can play important roles to curb it.
He said that those with diabetes should take medicine and they should avoid visiting quacks. “Diabetes education is more important than treatment,” said Dr Rafqat.
He said that in some children, there is some issue in pancreas due to which they are unable to produce insulin is known as Type 1 diabetes and it is a lifelong disease. Adults with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin but it is being resisted and excessive use of steroids besides self-medication are playing an important role in causing diabetes and eating style that like using more carbohydrate rich diets, Dr Rafqat said.
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Doctors said that long term complications of the diabetes develop gradually and the longer you have diabetes and uncontrolled sugar, the higher you have risk of complications.
Possible complications as per doctors include cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, Alzheimer’s disease etc, they said.
