The not so sweet truth about Diabetes

The not so sweet truth about diabetes

Ever wondered if all the sugary foods and drinks in your diet all this while may pose possible health issues? Have you been spending too much time on the couch? If you think the chances of contracting a disease is low just because you have had clean bills of health, then you need to think twice. Today, we bring to you the cold and hard facts of diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the blood glucose levels remain persistently higher than normal. In Singapore alone, it affects 8.2% of the population aged 18 to 69 years and is the seventh most common cause of death. The likelihood of mortality caused by diabetes-related complications is also significantly higher. Diabetes can be due in part to the process of aging, unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

The two most common types of diabetes are as follows:

Type 1 (Insulin absence)

• no insulin is produced due to damaged pancreatic cells
• usually diagnosed in children or young adults although it can occur at any age
• insulin injection is needed for treatment
• complications are sudden and life-threatening

Type 2 (Insulin resistance)

• insulin produced is not enough or not effective (insulin resistance)
• occurs more frequently in people over 40 years old, particularly those who are overweight and physically inactive
• more younger adults and children are developing Type 2 Diabetes
• can be controlled with proper diet and exercise but most diabetics also need oral medication

The last type of diabetes occurs in pregnant women (gestational diabetes). Women who are not diagnosed to have diabetes previously show high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Such cases require specialized obstetric care to reduce serious complications to the unborn baby.

For those unfamiliar with insulin, insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas (islet cells) that pushes sugar in the blood to the cells so they fuel the body. Without insulin, one can eat lots of food and actually be in a state of starvation since many of our cells cannot access the calories contained in the glucose very well without the action of insulin.

Signs & Symptoms

Now that we have understood what diabetes is, these are some of the common symptoms one should look out for.

  (Credits: http://www.xtend-life.com/healthconditions/Diabetes.aspx)

As Type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar have no symptoms. In contrast, symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop over a short period of time. Hence, it is important to go for annual health checks as the medical condition may be advanced by the time they are diagnosed.

Complications

Diabetes is not merely an acute condition. It can turn into a chronic disease when not managed well or need long term treatment. Some long-term complications of diabetes include:

• coronary heart disease such as angina, heart attack
• stroke
• eye disease
• kidney disease
• foot disease such as numbness, ulcers and even gangrene
• nerve disease which can lead to problems such as impotence and diarrhoea

Prevention & Screening

• Exercise – Exercise is known to be extremely important in preventing diabetes. It is recommended to have at least ½ hour of exercise a day. 
• Weight – A healthy BMI is also key in the prevention of diabetes. Over 80% of diabetics are overweight and research has shown losing weight to be one of the key factors in preventing diabetes 
• Diet - Eat sugary, oily or fried foods in moderation. Also, it is recommended to have at least 2 portions of fruits and vegetables daily
• Health Screening - As mentioned, Type 2 diabetes can often develop with little to no symptoms. Hence, it is recommended to do regular health screening on an annual basis.

Central Clinic offers a basic screening package priced at $25 at all of its clinics. The health screening package screens for  diabetes, cholesterol screen, gout, kidney function, liver function and urine test. You may also purchase your health screening voucher online here. For further information, you may wish to drop us an email at enquiries@centralclinic.com.sg.

Total skin wellness with Medical Aesthetics

Total skin wellness with Medical Aesthetics

Have you ever flipped through beauty magazines and desire to have the perfect complexion that models do? Indeed, to achieve healthy skin one would require a proper diet, a balanced lifestyle and most importantly, a proper skincare regime. But is that enough to maintain youthfulness? Sometimes it is but more often than not, additional and specialist care is frequently sought after by individuals who wish to look their very best possible. Medical Aesthetics has had many years of experience in successfully beautifying patients. In this article, we bring to you more information on Medical Aesthetics' range of affordable and effective Laser and IPL treatments which will have you glowing with radiance.

Medical Aesthetics provides 3 kinds of Laser and IPL treatments as follows:

CO2 Fractional Laser

The anti-aging breakthrough of the decade is a skin-resurfacing treatment known as CO2 Fractional Laser Therapy. Combining the effectiveness of traditional carbon dioxide lasers with a new application technique, it delivers powerful results without the traditionally harsh side effects. Laser resurfacing uses beams of energy light to bore tiny holes in the skin, which stimulates skin regeneration. Skin tightening and textural improvement is visible in one week. Cell regeneration continues to improve up to six months so it progressively takes several years off your appearance with just a few days of downtime. There may be some minor redness and swelling during recovery time.

Recommended for:
• Wrinkles
• Facial Lines
• Skin Pigmentation associated with photogaging, surgical, acne scarring

Carbon Laser Peel

The treatment helps diminish the appearance of imperfections on the skin’s surface by rejuvenating the skin and reducing effects of the sun. Carbon is applied onto the face, and a NdYag laser beam is then shot on the skin surface with the carbon on. This is known to be effective for pores treatment, wrinkles, improving the skin tone and also for photorejuvenation. There may be some minor redness, swelling, burning sensations and itchiness which will usually last less than a day.

Recommended for:
• Wrinkles
• Acne Scarring
• Enlarged pores
• Improving skin tone

Intense Pulsed Light

The treatment uses a specific wavelength of the visible light to treat pigment, acne, reduce hair, reduce small capillaries and also helps with photorejuvenation. Improvements are gradual, with no downtime. There may be some minor redness and swelling during the recovery time.

Recommended for:
• treat pigmentation or acne problems
• reduce small capillaries
• reduce hair

With the affordable and effective variety of laser treatments Medical Aesthetics has, your skin will feel rejuvenated than before. Now you too can have magazine-worthy skin. For enquiries you may contact us directly for after office hours (any time from 9am to 9pm) at 93387432.