We Human’s have a peculiar attitude when it comes to our health. We often tend to ignore a minor pain, fever or scratches. We often believe that our body will heal itself… In most cases that just what our body does. However, the same is not the case when it comes to Diabetes. Diabetes is quite rightly called the Silent Killer and for good reason. Diabetes does not allow body to heal in a normal manner. Hence, diabetic patient cannot & should not take even a minor injury lightly.
Generally, Diabetic patient only check their sugar test (fasting & post lunch sugar). If their sugar parameters are in the normal range, they believe they are doing fine and go about their routine, without a care in the world. It gives them a false sense of security, that their diabetes is in control and consequently they will not suffer from any other diabetic complication. Unfortunately, that is not the case and such diabetics should still go for a complete diabetes check-up atleast once a year while keeping a regular follow-up with their Diabetologist.
Take the case of one our regular patients, who had her blood sugar in check had just done her annual Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test at Sweet clinic. The test highlighted that she has a coronary condition. Following which our Diabetologist further analysed her for diabetes related coronary symptoms and eventually suggested to undergo an angiography. Unlike a normal person who would have got chest pain & unexplained sweating, a diabetic patient with a heart condition only has some breathlessness and a feeling of heaviness. Which is the symptoms she showed. Her angiogram showed a heart block and she had to undergo an angioplasty. This patient’s adherence to her diabetologist follow-up and annual testing protocol helped save her life. Similarly, many diabetics can save themselves from life-threating conditions by simply showing up for their diabetologist consultation and regular tests.
One must understand that diabetes can affect heart, eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, feet, brain or any other organ without any clear symptoms. It is still a mystery why in some diabetics, it affects the heart while in others affecting a different organ, some studies suggest it related to a person’s genetics.
Nonetheless, what we know for sure is that a diabetic patient generally has a higher blood sugar level than what is ideal for the human body. This increase in blood sugar first starts affecting the minute blood vessels called capillaries by making them thinner. These are present in all organs of the body by making them thinner. The first change occurs at the minute level of these capillaries.
It is through the capillaries that each organ gets their oxygen & nutrients and also send their waste products to the blood to be excreted out of the body later.
Hence, during the initial stages of any diabetic, complications are symptom less. For example if kidney is getting affected by diabetes, at the onset, the person will have no complains whatsoever. Even the blood marker test results (Kidney Function Test -Blood Urea & Creatinine) will be within acceptable limits. This happens because kidney, like a good soldier, will try it’s best to maintain normal functionality. Its only when the kidney cannot sustain its normal functioning that the blood markers show a spike. This is when most diabetics will start witnessing some uneasiness or pain. Nonetheless, these changes take place at a very slow rate and warning signs can be identified before any major change in the organ takes place. For example, keeping a check on the urine protein test (micro-albumin test) can help a diabetologist know that the kidney is getting stressed (even before the patient experiences any symptoms) and take necessary corrective steps to save the organ from further damage. Hence, It is important for any diabetic to go for a complete diabetes check-up.
Similarly, diabetic retinopathy which is known to cause irreversible damage to the eye, even blindness in some patients can be prevented by a simply going for an annual diabetes specific eye test …
Hence, a diabetic patient can never be too complacent and should only consider normal blood sugar levels with a pinch of salt. They should visit their diabetologists regularly and get those specific tests done to be extremely sure that diabetes is not affecting any of their other organs adversely.
Based on our experience of treating more than 3000 diabetes patients, we at Sweet Clinics have introduced the Sweet Secure and Sweet Shield, complete diabetes care programs that make sure each and every early marker for diabetic complication is measured. Our diabetologist and super specialist doctor team are always available to help our patients live a healthy & happy life.