Biothesiometer helps to detect and quantify early sensory loss in diabetic patients.

Doppler helps in detection of decreased blood circulation (Ischaemia).

Major amputations are often prevented by timely chiropody. Two trained chiropodists are available at our centre for treatment of Calluses, corns and Ulcers in Diabetic foot. Pedicure services like Nail trimming and Chiropody are done at a very reasonable rate at the Foot Clinic proper instructions are also provided to the patients regarding the usage of suitable foot wear and insoles thereby preventing recurrence of callus or corns in diabetic foot.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in diabetics. Coronary disease is a known cardiovascular disorder and diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to fall prey to it than non-diabetics. Increased plaque deposition on the walls of large coronary arteries which restrict blood supply to heart muscle is a major cause.

Effects on smaller blood vessels or microvasculature such as abnormalities arising due to autonomic neuropathy, thickening of capillaries interfering with transport and exchange functioning, changes due to hyperglycaemia.

Heart failure is another complication of cardiovascular disease where the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood is decreased and as a result fluid gets deposited in extremities.

Damage to the nerves that occurs due to diabetes is called ‘diabetic neuropathy’. Any nerve can get affected due to high blood sugar in diabetes. One may experience variable symptoms ranging from loss of sensation and pain in extremities like legs or feet to problems with digestion, urinary system, heart, and blood vessels.

Nerve damage or diabetic neuropathy is a common phenomenon among diabetics, affecting approximately 60-70% of them. People with diabetes can develop nerve damage over time, due to factors such as restricted blood supply or harmful effects of high blood sugar on the nerves and nerve endings. The longer the duration of diabetes and poorer the blood sugar control, the more likely is the development of diabetic neuropathy.

Common symptoms include numbness, burning, tingling or deep pain in the toes and feet, which eventually extend to upper arms, hands and fingers.

The term ‘Nephropathy’ means kidney damage or disease. If this is caused due to diabetes, it is termed as diabetic nephropathy. Each human kidney has about a million nephrons which filter waste from the blood. Each nephron consists of filtering unit called ‘glomerulus’ which is damaged because of diabetes. This damage leads to leakage of proteins such as albumin into urine, which is a typical first sign of diabetic nephropathy. As the disease progresses, kidney functionality reduces gradually and finally results in kidney failure.

In diabetics with poor glycaemic control, chronically elevated blood sugar levels cause thickening and scarring of the nephrons and gradually decreases kidney’s efficiency to filter the waste products from the blood. Over time, with poorly controlled diabetes, kidney functionality gets totally impaired resulting in kidney failure. Overall, diabetics have 17 times greater probability of developing kidney disease versus non-diabetics.

• Typical symptoms are

• Fluid build-up causing swelling in the legs, ankles

• Itchy skin

• Breathlessness

• Tiredness

• Poor appetite, stomach upset

• Loss of sleep, weakness and difficulty concentrating

Eye damage caused due to diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. This involves injury to the retina, the light sensitive part of the eye responsible for vision. Due to diabetes, abnormalities occur in the tiny vessels nourishing the retina at the back of eye. It commonly affects both the eyes and leads to loss of vision, if left untreated. Let’s learn more about diabetic retinopathy, its causes and consequences.

Symptoms are

• Blurred vision

• Spots or floaters in the field or the centre of vision

• Poor night vision

Prashanth Hospitals can boast of being the only clinic which has high end and expert services for treating gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy (gestation). Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). It causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby’s health.

Any pregnancy complication is concerning but expectant women can help control gestational diabetes by eating healthy foods, exercising and, if necessary, taking medication. Controlling blood sugar can prevent a difficult birth and keep you and your baby healthy.

Causes

• Pregnancy does affect the expectant Mother’s body’s glucose processing.

• The body digests the food eaten to produce sugar (glucose) that enters the bloodstream. In response, the pancreas produces insulin.

• During pregnancy, the placenta, which connects your baby to your blood supply, produces high levels of various other hormones which impair the action of insulin in the cells, raising the blood sugar. However, modest elevation of blood sugar after meals is normal during pregnancy.

• In gestational diabetes, the placental hormones provoke a rise in blood sugar to a level that can affect the growth and welfare of your baby

• Age

• Family or personal health history

• Excess weight

• Monitoring your blood sugar

• Healthy diet

• Exercise

• Medication

• Close monitoring of your baby