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- Diabetes mellitus that is the full
name is an important cause of blindness and kidney failure
and risk factor for the production of heart attacks
and strokes.
- All body requirements of energy are
produced by burning of sugar (glucose) by the body cells
with the help of the hormone insulin, secreted by the
gland pancreas, which lies deep in the abdomen behind
the stomach. With decrements in the number of cells
and corresponding reduction in the production of insulin
or due to decreased sensitivity of the body to its action
as a result of obesity or both sugar is not metabolized
properly and accumulates in the blood.
- Cells in the body need glucose (sugar)
for making energy required for daily life. The food
we eat turns to glucose (sugar) after digestion.
- Glucose enters the blood stream to
reach different body cells. Insulin is like a key, which
opens the body cells doors to allow glucose to enter.
- In the absence of enough insulin or
due to defective insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells
and remains in the blood stream in high amount. The
condition is called diabetes.
- General weakness and lack of energy
are complained by the diabetic patient, because sugar
is not being metabolized to produce energy. Total blood
cholesterol and triglycerides rise in the blood and
the beneficial HDL – Cholesterol lowered. These
changes in the uncontrolled diabetic patients hastens
degenerative lifelines of the body. Fatty obstruction
of cholesterol (atheroma) appear in them. They cause
obstruction to the flow of blood and are responsible
for angina, heart attacks and strokes. The disturbed
fat metabolism also effects the fine blood vessels of
the eyes and kidneys adversely causing damage to these
organs.
- Any sugar or carbohydrate taken in
excess of what can be metabolised by the body will raise
the blood sugar. Hence, the carbohydrate intake has
to be regulated. Any reduction so effected should be
in consistence with the minimum needs of the body.
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