Medical Clinic

Diabetics use Insulin daily. So its important to know basics like - what exactly is Insulin? Here we will discuss about it and other Insulin basics like - How is it produced in our body? What are its sources  and the differences between Human and Animal Insulin and get to know its structure. What is Insulin? Insulin is a polypeptide hormone secreted by Beta cells of Pancreas. Hormone is a vital substance produced in one part of the body transported through blood to act on the same or another part to alter (either increase or decrease) its functional activity. Peptide means a protein molecule made up of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Polypeptide indicates that it is made up of more than one peptides (see below).

We will discuss - What is Prediabetes? Who is at risk, how to prevent Prediabetes? What is Prediabetes? Prediabetes - As the name suggests, Prediabetes is a stage prior to full blown onset of Diabetes. It is based on the glucose levels in the blood. When blood glucose, tested by Fasting Plasma Glucose or Oral Glucose Tolerance Test are found to be higher than normal but below Diabetes levels, the condition is called Prediabetes. This term is synonymous with Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) , but now preferred over IGT for easy understanding. Prediabetes - Facts

Diabetes is not all gloom and doom. There are some positive things about Diabetes. Knowing them helps one cope better. Obviously there are many health related positives like weight loss, regular diet, but there is more to it than just health. Let's look at some key takeaways about Diabetes. Diabetes can benefit all including you, your family and your community or a social circle.

Complications of  Diabetes Mellitus  are serious and well known. Spectrum of Diabetic complications is vast, from being most trivial to life threatening.  Long term Diabetics are at very high risk of complications if they lack blood sugar control (more likely) and sometimes even otherwise (less likely). High BP and Cholesterol are the other two major harbingers. Inevitably Diabetics fall prey to its complications after several long yrs.  According to WHO,  Diabetes is predicted to become the seventh leading cause of death in the world by the year 2030. Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years.   Hence its very essential to have   proper   understanding and accurate knowledge of when to seek medical intervention. Specifically those who have co-existing diseases like Hypertension , Thyroid disorders or Heart diseases or Kidney problems  are at increased risk and should exercise extreme caution and follow the medical advice diligently. 

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 Diabetes . It is relatively well known. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for nearly 90-95% of cases of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). It affects both men and women with slight bias towards elderly males. Criteria for diagnosis   includes blood sugar testing and measuring HBA1c levels. Age of onset :- Type 2 DM is a disease primarily affecting middle aged and elderly people. As per ADA (American Diabetes Association) , as much as 27% of elderly individuals (age >65)  are affected with Diabetes. But recently a rising trend has been observed in younger population especially among Obese Adolescents . 

Diabetes Mellitus is of 2 types - Type 1  Diabetes   and Type 2  Diabetes . Whenever people talk about Diabetes in common parlance, almost every time they intend to speak about type 2 Diabetes because Type 2 Diabetes is much more common and known to people, than is type 1. Both have very different causes and treatment plans, prevention aspects also vary significantly. So its essential to understand the difference between the two. Type 1 Diabetes and its monikers -   Early onset Diabetes Mellitus / Ju venile onset Diabetes Mellitus   Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)   Auto immune Diabetes mellitus