5 Questions

8226; My sugar level after 12 hours fasting is slightly above the limit, but the PP is within limits. However, the fasting level figure is higher than the PP level. What could be the reason? I relish fresh fruits banana, orange, melon, watermelon, papaya, guava and raw vegetables radish, carrot, cucumber, kakri, ghat gobi and depending on the availability, have them every day. Which fruits and raw vegetables should normally be avoided by diabetics? I am 62.
Harish C Kohli

Sometimes fasting blood sugar is slightly high due to increased amount of sugar made by liver during the night. In some persons, if he/she is too anxious, fasting blood sugar may go up a little due to effect of hormones while at the time of taking post prandial sugar, the person is more settled hence sugar may be normal. Regardless, you have a high tendency to develop diabetes, and should take all precautions. You should avoid grapes, mangoes, chiku, banana, potatoes, colocasia arbi, yam jimikand and sweet potatoes as the calorie content of these fruits and vegetables are higher as compared to others. Fruits also contain simple sugars known as fructose which doesn8217;t raise blood sugars rapidly but is recommended to be taken in a fixed quantity depending upon the calorie intake advised to an individual.

8226; I am on insulin injections from past two years and now my family doctor has advised to switch over to MiniMed Paradigm 8212; insulin pump. The doctor says that it is easy to use and is convenient. Please advise. I8217;m 35 years old.
Monika Agarwal

If you are well controlled on insulin injections, and do not mind taking multiple injections, you may not need continuous insulin infusion pump. These are expensive and have recurring monthly expenditure with occasional risk of malfunction. The final long-term outcome with multiple insulin injections and therapy with pump is probably the same. However, insulin therapy with pump will avoid insulin injections, which many patients find problematic. These devices could be useful for children and pregnant women.

8226; I am 40 years old and suffering from polyurea and recurrent boils which subsides after taking antibiotics. My blood sugar is 128 pp. Please suggest treatment.
M M Satvekar

Please undergo an oral glucose tolerance test with 75 gm glucose load. If your blood glucose profile is normal, then your polyurea and recurrent boils are due to other causes, which need to be ascertained with your physician.

8226; There has been a talk about new forms of insulins. When are they likely to be released in the market?
Neena Sharma

In last 5 years, we have three new insulins and one more type of insulin is going to be introduced shortly in India. In addition, trials with inhaled short acting insulins are about over in India, and this type of insulin will be introduced here in the next 3 to 6 months. Some of these insulins have an advantage over previous generation of insulins, but they are also more expensive.

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