Sugar Rush: Youngsters, beware of Type 2 diabetes

Bengaluru: A large number of people in the city are affected by Type two diabetes. This can be tricky and the early warning signs hard to spot, assert experts. “Despite a majority of youngsters within the age bracket of 25 to 45 falling  prey to this illness, type 2 diabetes goes mostly undiagnosed. This is due to lack of awareness and often attributing the early warning signs to stress and fatigue,” says Dr Shankar Kumar, Senior Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, MS Diabetes Centre. The Centre screens  thirty patients every day with Type two diabetes. “We see almost 900 patients every month. Only one per cent have type one diabetes. Also, we are seeing a lot more young people between 25 to 40 falling prey to this disease,” adds Dr Shankar.

Dr Udaya Kumar Maiya, Medical Director of Portea Medical points out, “This type 2 diabetes is more common among the city’s population and is easy to miss. The symptoms are not very pronounced, like: feeling fatigued every day, going to the loo once or twice at night, a tendency to become thirsty really soon or developing a chest infection. Those who have such signs should get their sugar level checked. After 25 years of age,  people should go for a routine health check-up.”

Said Dr Srinivas Munigoti, Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore: “In Type II Diabetes, high sugar levels are due to a combination of insulin deficiency and resistance to the action of Insulin, commonly described as ‘Insulin resistance’. Initially the patient’s  blood sugars  are very responsive to lifestyle measures and oral  medication. After a few years though, many patients require insulin for their control  of  blood sugar.?   This need for insulin can however be postponed with an active lifestyle that involves healthy diet and regular exercise. Similarly, in people with pre-diabetes. the onset of Type 2 diabetes itself can be prevented through modest weight loss and moderate physical activities to a great extent.”
 

 

 

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