KNOW ABOUT DIABETES

Diabetes is a very common disease which is a chronic health condition in which the level of glucose in the body elevates. Diabetes can be classified into two types : Type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an uncommon type in which a body fails to generate insulin and affects mostly children. The common type of diabetes is type 2, where your body is unable to produce enough insulin or the produced insulin is unable to work properly. 90% of the diabetics are type 2 diabetics. This type 2 diabetes grow usually after the age of 40. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the insulin resistance of the body which increases sugar level in the blood.

The usually studied symptoms of diabetes are:

• being physically inactive

• increased tiredness and fatigue

• intense thirst

• frequent infections

• slow healing of cuts and wounds

• frequent hunger

• unclear or blurred vision

• nausea and vomiting

• body weight issues

• irritability

• loss of feeling in the feet

It is also observed that an individual with a family history of diabetes might also become prone to diabetes.

The problems caused by diabetes can range from heart disease to kidney failure to losing toes and fingers to nerve damage. A diabetic person is more likely to develop a heart disease than a non-diabetic one. But, keeping the diabetes under control helps to protect the health of heart as much as possible. Since diabetes causes high level of glucose in the blood, which affects the walls of the arteries and make them more likely to develop fatty deposits which are called atheroma, if built up in your coronary arteries, you may suffer from a coronary heart disease which triggers a heart attack.

Reducing the risk of developing diabetes for a non-diabetic:

• develop healthy eating habits
• control weight
• develop a habit to work out or perform different physical activities
• eliminate frequent consumption of sugar related items, as just one sweetened drinking in a day increases your diabetes risk by 25%

Reducing the effect of diabetes on the heart:

• do not smoke or drink
• develop healthy eating habits i.e. a balanced diet
• do physical activity as much as you can, consistently
• control your weight
• the drug treatment of diabetes is not fully effective, so it depends on you to control your glucose level by exercising and eating a balanced diet.

For detailed information : Complete Information Sheet of Diabetes

New to humans: MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

MERS is a respiratory disease accompanied by inimical health conditions like high fever, respiratory illness, cough and shortness of breath. MERS is a new type of disease to humans and was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and hence named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This disease can affect anyone from any age group. About 36% of the people suffering from MERS have been reported dead.

MERS is caused by a family of viruses called corona virus which contains variety of viruses ranging from their capability to stimulate common cold to deadly MERS in humans. This disease is often called atypical pneumonia since it is not caused by a usual bacteria or viruses from the group of corona viruses. The disease is transferred by close contact with an infected person. MERS is reported to emerge in middle east part of the world in the countries like Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The report published by World Health Organization (WHO) on June of 2015, has stated that the number of people infected from MERS, after the September of 2012,  is about 1321 in which about 466 have died in minimum. 

Also, according to WHO, Camel is the source of storing maximum number of these types of viruses but the role of camel and the mechanism of transmission of these viruses from camel to a human is still unclear.

Symptoms of MERS:

• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• shortness of breath
• some people can also suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia and develop kidney failure

People who have weak immunity system, and previously been diagnosed with heart diseases, diabetes, chronic lungs infections and kidney diseases are at greater risk of being infected more seriously. To prevent the disease, it is requested to consult your physician as soon as possible if you find yourself developing the symptoms listed above, especially if you are travelling or staying in the countries in middle east of the world. 

The vaccines for treatment of MERS have not yet been discovered but medical care is provided to lessen the symptoms and relieve the signs. So, it is very important to take account on the precautions to protect yourself against the disease.

• Avoid the habit of touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands because it is the great source of viruses and bacteria entering your body.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and clean water.
• Avoid close contact, through any ways with the sick person
• For the citizens from outside the middle east regions, pay maximum attention in different issues including food and beverage consumption while travelling to these areas.