Abstract

Dhananjay Singh Yadav* and Gopal Verma

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produceenough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised bloodsugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to seriousdamage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. InIndia, there are estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are sufferingfrom diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics (at a higher risk ofdeveloping diabetes in near future). More than 50% of people are unaware of theirdiabetic status which leads to health complications if not detected and treated early.Adults with diabetes have a two- to three-fold increased risk of heart attacks andstrokes. Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy (nerve damage) in the feetincreases the chance of foot ulcers, infection, and the eventual need for limbamputation. Diabetic retinopathy is an important cause of blindness and occursbecause of long-term accumulated damage to the small blood vessels in the retina.Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure.