Diabetes Mellitus and Diet: Few Important Facts to Ponder / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease which is characterized by hyperglycemia. There is either disturbance in insulin secretion or defective insulin action or even a combination of both. Usually, there are few confounding factors like genetic, obesity, sedentary life style, atherosclerosis, and even faulty dietary habits which lead or aggravate DM. Usually, the individual does not care and often the complications resulting from hyperglycaemia are fatal. Complications in DM involve the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine, renal and neurological systems in the body. Treatment of diabetic complications is not only costly but it is also a burden on the affected families. The present review discusses the challenges faced in DM with special concern on diet and food habits. Knowledge of proper food consumption may also help an individual combat complication in DM and reduce the mortality and morbidity.