Globally, as of 2010, an estimated 285 million people had diabetes,
with type 2 making up about 90% of the cases. In 2013, according to
International Diabetes Federation; an estimated
381 million people had diabetes. Diabetes is a disease
in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose. Glucose backs up
in the bloodstream causing one’s blood glucose (sometimes referred to as blood sugar) to rise too high.
Insulin won’t be produced in persons with no beta cells or in whom if they are
destroyed due to immunological problems. This will result into reduce uptake of
blood sugar by cells causing high blood sugar. This is known as Type I diabetes
(formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent). People with type 1
diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. This form of diabetes
usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age.
Diabetes can occur in anyone irrespective to race, religion,
sex, economic or financial condition. However, people who have close relatives
with the disease are somewhat more likely to develop it. Other risk factors
include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity.
The risk of developing diabetes also increases as people grow older. People who
are over 40 and overweight are more likely to develop diabetes, although the
incidence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents is growing. Diabetes is more common
among Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian
Americans/Pacific Islanders. Also, people who develop diabetes while pregnant
(a condition called gestational diabetes) are more likely to develop full-blown
diabetes later in life.
People with diabetes frequently experience certain symptoms.
These include:
frequent urination
weight loss
being very thirsty
increased hunger
blurry vision
irritability
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
frequent skin, bladder or gum infections
wounds that don't heal
extreme unexplained fatigue
In ayurveda,
the diease is included in Ashtau mahagada i.e. eight disease which can kill ordisable
the person.
In ayurveda, It is known as Prameha. The prameha in Sanskrit
means frequent and large quantity of micturition. Pra means excess of urine in
both frequency and volume. Prameha, thus, becomes self-explanatory and holds
the twin meanings of "Prabhutha-mutratha" or excessive urination and
"Avil-mutratha" or turbid urine. As per ayurveda it is related with faulty
lipid metabolism.
