HealthDuties

Diagnosis of diabetes can be done by testing urine for glucose and ketone bodies, measuring random and fasting blood glucose, or oral glucose tolerance test.

Management of diabetes can be done with three methods: dietary control, oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin. A diet for a diabetic patient should be low-energy and weight reducing. It should be low on fat content and alcohol intake should be avoided.

Oral hypoglycemic drugs like Sulphonulureas, Biguanides, Alpha-glycosidase inhibitors, Thiazolodinediones, Meglitinides and Amino acid derivatives might be used. Insulin is given through subcutaneous injection, which the patient can inject himself with little expertise.

Diabetes Mellitus is a clinical syndrome related to hyperglycemia (increase in blood sugar). High blood sugar levels are due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. It is estimated that around 300 million people will be affected by the year 2010. That’s twice as many as was estimated in the year 2000.

Diabetes is of two types: TYPE I (insulin dependant diabetes mellitus) and TYPE II (non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus). Causes of diabetes include: idiopathic, heredity, obesity, pancreatic disease, and drug induced, viral infections, associated with genetic syndromes like Turnerís syndrome, klienefelter syndrome, and Down syndrome.

Though different people may experience different symptoms the most common are:

• Frequent urination (even at night) 
• Excessive thirst 
• Dry skin 
• Itchy skin 
• Slow healing of cuts 
• Blurry eyesight 
• Always being very hungry
• Feeling tired and weak
• Weight loss
• Skin infections
• Numbness or tingling in feet