What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease where there is an increased level of sugar in the blood due to
diminished effectiveness or lack of insulin that is produced in the body. |
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What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Excessive thirst, passing increased quantities of urine, bed-wetting, tiredness, loss of
weight, impotence, problems with eye-sight or numbness or lack of sensation in the limbs
are the usual symptoms of Diabetes. Sometimes the symptoms of low blood sugar maybe
mistaken for diabetes. This may have serious consequences.
See also: Low Blood sugar or Hypoglycemia. |
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What will happen if Diabetes is left untreated?
If it is untreated then there maybe complications affecting the eye, the kidney, the nervous system and the heart
& blood vessels |
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What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Click here to know about Diabetic
Retinopathy |
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What is the treatment for Diabetes?
If the Diabetes is mild it could be controlled with diet restriction and physical
exercise. When these measures cannot control the problem, a doctor may prescribe drugs or
insulin in specific doses after doing a thorough check-up and examining the blood
sugar levels. |
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How important is it to take treatment regularly or follow a
diabetic regimen?
Success or failure of treatment is entirely dependent on the patient following a
diabetic regimen, having self-discipline and a sense of purpose. With regular treatment it
is easy to lead a completely normal life without any symptoms and be in positively good
health. |
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What is the role of diet in the management of Diabetes?
Mild diabetes maybe controlled by diet restriction. In any case even with active treatment
of the disease, a strict diet schedule will help a person to lead a comfortable life. See
Also: Diabetic Diet, Nutrition |
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What are the food items to be avoided?
- Sugar, Glucose
- Honey, Syrup
- Jaggery, Jam, Sweets and Sweet biscuits
- Preserved fruits and dried fruits
- Nuts and cakes
- Soft Drinks (Cool drinks)
- Malted Beverages, Chocolate drinks
- Liquor
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What are the food items that can be included in a diabetic diet?
- Clear Soup
- Unsweetened lime juice, tomato juice.
- Churned buttermilk
- Pepper water (Rasam)
- Vegetable salads without roots and tubers
- Black Coffee or Tea, Soda.
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What is the ideal Diabetic menu?
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What about Sweetening Agents?
Saccharin and other sweetening agents have been in use for a long time. In moderate
quantities they do not interfere with the action of insulin. If a person is trying to
reduce weight then these sweetening agents could be discouraged because they
perpetuate the desire to eat sweet foods and thus make it more difficult to follow dietary
restrictions. |
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How important is physical exercise for Diabetics?
Simple and regular physical exercise like going for a walk or yoga not only burn up
the calories but keep the elderly person physically fit and agile. |
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Do diabetics have a greater chance of feeling depressed than
those without diabetes?
Yes, people with diabetes are three times more likely to experience a major
depressive episode than the general public. The reason lies in the chronic nature of
diabetes. Many people with chronic problems tend to feel depressed.
It may also be because of the many decisions one has to make regarding ones lifestyle,
food, medication, exercise, blood-glucose testing, and so on. These responsibilities can
seem a burden for some people. See also: Depression and
Diabetes |
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