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Diabetes - Causes, Symptoms, Health Insurance Coverage

Benefits

​​What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that increases blood sugar level. A hormone named insulin moves sugar from the blood into the cells of the body where they are stored or used for energy. However, the body of a person suffering from diabetes either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively do its function. 

Diabetes can cause damage to your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. There are 4 types of diabetes:

  • Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks its own body and destroys cells in the pancreas.
  • Type 2 diabetes occurs when the patient's body shows resistance to insulin, which results in an increase of sugar level in the blood.
  • Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Placenta produces insulin-blocking hormones that cause this type of diabetes.

    • Symptoms


    Signs and symptoms of Diabetes are mentioned below:

  • ​Increase in hunger
  • Frequent urination
  • Increase in thirst
  • Blurred vision
  • Sores that don’t heal
  • Loss in weight 
  • Extreme fatigue

    • If you are facing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to consult your doctor immediately.​

    Diagnosis

    Once your doctor has gone through your symptoms, and overall health history, they may ask you to take a test for diabetes if they suspect any risk. You have to go through the following tests:

  • Fasting blood sugar test

    • This test is usually done after an 8-hour fast. An ideal blood sugar level should be between 100 mg per dL to 125 mg per dL. If anything, more comes in the test result, it indicates diabetes.​

  • ​Oral glucose tolerance test

    • A patient has to drink a beverage containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. If after 2 hours, a blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

  • Random blood sugar test

    • This test measures glucose level in your blood at any time of day. If the level of blood glucose is 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

  • A1C blood test

    • ​​This test which is calculated in percentage provides information about a person’s average levels of blood glucose over the previous 3 months. Below 5.7% is considered as a normal A1C level. A result between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes and over 6.4% indicates diabetes.

    ​Treatment


    Doctors treat diabetes with a few different medications. Some of these drugs are injected while others are taken by mouth. Insulin is the chief treatment for type 1 diabetes. Whereas diet and exercise help manage type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. The doctor might prescribe some drugs also.

    Health Insurance


    Suffering from health issues is not only physically taxing but can also drain you financially. Therefore, it is advised to buy health insurance policy​ which will provide financial coverage that can take care of medical expenses and hospitalization bills. It takes care of pre and post hospitalization bills. If you buy health insurance, you will not only get the cashless treatment from a network hospital where the bill is directly settled by your insurance provider with the hospital but will also enjoy tax benefits under section 80D of Income Tax Act, 1961. Make sure to know your policy details and covers before purchasing a health insurance policy.