Type 1 diabetes is when the body's immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. It is an autoimmune disease. Whereas in Type 2 diabetes, factors like family history or poor diet could be the leading cause. This is a condition where there is a problem in the way your body regulates and uses sugar as a fuel.

In today's world, Type 1 diabetes has emerged as a silent epidemic which has impacted many and could include the risk of coma. In India alone, 70% of the population suffers from uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This can lead to uncontrolled diabetes and lead to coma or unconsciousness.

There Are 3 Types of Diabetic Comas:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis coma
• Hyperosmolar coma
• Hypoglycaemic coma

Ketoacidosis Coma

Diabetic ketoacidosis happens in people with type 1 diabetes. This happens due to the build-up chemicals ketones that are strongly acidic and can cause the blood to become too acidic.

This happens when there is not enough insulin circulating in the body and the body cannot use glucose for energy. So, instead, fat is broken down and converted to ketones in the liver, which can build up when insulin levels are too low.

One of the common causes of this could be a missed dose of insulin.

Signs of ketoacidosis:

• extreme thirst
• lethargy
• frequent urination
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• drowsiness
• rapid breathing

Diabetic hyperosmolar coma

This happens when your body is dehydrated and has a high blood glucose level. If you have forgotten your diabetes medications or insulin, or have an infection, illness, flu or pneumonia, or increased intake of sugary food or fluids, then you might be at risk.

It is more common in people with type 2 diabetes, who have an infection or acute illness.

What happens to your body? Your kidneys respond to high levels of blood glucose by doing their best to remove it and require a large amount of water. This is why you feel thirsty, however, are unable to drink enough water to replace the lost fluids. The way to deal with this is by intravenous fluids.

This coma usually develops slowly over several days or even weeks, which means it can be prevented if high blood glucose levels are detected early.

Diabetic hypoglycaemic coma

Hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose levels (below 3.5 mmol/l), occurs when a person on insulin takes an extra dose or an increased dose. It can also happen due to strenuous exercise without eating extra food, missing a meal, drinking too much alcohol or drinking alcohol without food.

If the blood glucose falls very low, then the person can become unconscious, and seizures can occur.

Symptoms

• Tremor
• Racing pulse or heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Weakness
• Intense hunger
• Confusion, altered behaviour, drowsiness or coma

It is important to understand the various forms of diabetic comas is important to prevent in time. Both caused by severely high or low levels of blood sugar, each type has unique symptoms that cannot be disregarded. While good insulin control, a healthy diet, and monitoring can help keep the risk at bay, awareness of warning signs can save lives. Whether you have diabetes or are a caregiver for a person with diabetes, being well-informed allows you to act in advance to control the condition and prevent life-threatening complications such as coma.

As the world continues to struggle with surges of COVID-19 alongside seasonal flu outbreaks, our attention naturally turns to the known protocols—masking, sanitizing, and social distancing. But amidst this heightened focus on respiratory health, have you ever caught yourself rubbing your eyes in public and instantly panicked, “Wait, what if I just exposed myself to COVID?”, I sure have! While we’ve masked up, sanitized hands religiously, and avoided touching elevator buttons with bare fingers, most of us have ignored a crucial entry point for viruses—our eyes.

From foggy glasses to burning dryness behind masks and marathon screen-time fatigue, your eyes have silently endured the pandemic’s worst. But here's the thing: your eyes aren’t just tired—they might actually be vulnerable to viral infection.

Your eyes are not only a window to the world, but also a possible gateway for infections like COVID-19. According to Dr. Anurag Wahi, ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, “The eyes are mucous membranes, just like the nose and mouth. They are exposed, vulnerable, and often touched without thinking. That makes them a potential entry point for viruses.”

While the primary transmission route for COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets, scientific studies and clinical observations have confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 can enter the body through the eyes. This happens when droplets land directly on the ocular surface during a cough or sneeze—or when a person touches a contaminated surface and then rubs their eyes.

Dr. Wahi explains, “We’ve seen patients with conjunctivitis and mild eye irritation test positive for COVID-19. Though eye-related symptoms are rare, they’re a warning sign that the virus can travel through ocular routes.”

More transmissible variants of COVID-19 have increased the likelihood of infections spreading even via minimal exposure, making eye hygiene and awareness more crucial than ever.

Unexpected Effects Of Long-Term Mask Use on Eyes

One of the lesser-known side effects of long-term mask use—especially poorly fitted masks—is mask-associated dry eye (MADE). When a mask directs air upward across the eyes, it speeds up tear evaporation. This results in redness, burning, irritation, or blurry vision, which may feel like mere discomfort but can indicate compromised ocular health.

“The issue became particularly evident among healthcare professionals who wore masks for prolonged periods,” says Dr. Wahi. “The lack of moisture and increased air flow over the eye’s surface led to an increase in dry eye cases.”

The problem is compounded by excessive screen time—a consequence of remote work, virtual classes, and increased digital consumption. Extended screentime can significantly reduce blink rate, affecting tear production and worsening dryness.

Smart Ways to Protect Your Vision

Keeping your eyes safe doesn’t require complex tasks, just informed action. Here's how you can keep your eyes safe and healthy:

1. Keep Hands Off Your Eyes

It may sound basic, but avoiding unnecessary eye contact with your fingers is one of the most effective protective habits. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses or applying medication. “People underestimate how often they touch their eyes unconsciously,” warns Dr. Wahi.

2. Use Protective Eyewear

For healthcare workers, public-facing professionals, or those entering high-risk environments like hospitals, glasses or face shields offer an extra layer of protection against airborne droplets.

3. Tackle Dryness With Eye Drops

If you’re experiencing irritation or blurry vision, lubricating eye drops can help. Choose preservative-free artificial tears to restore moisture. Also, ensure your mask is properly fitted. A snug fit over the nose—with a pinched wire—minimizes upward airflow.

4. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule

To reduce digital eye strain, follow this golden rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It gives your eye muscles time to reset and recover, helping you blink naturally and maintain tear function.

Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Symptoms like persistent redness, irritation, light sensitivity, or blurred vision shouldn’t be brushed off as screen fatigue. These signs may indicate dry eye syndrome, allergies, or even early signs of ocular infection.

Dr. Wahi cautions, “If symptoms persist for more than a day or two, or if they worsen, it’s important to see a specialist—especially if you’ve had a recent illness, fever, or exposure to COVID-19-positive individuals.”

Timely intervention can prevent complications and also ensure the symptoms are not related to systemic infections or autoimmune flare-ups triggered by the virus.

Don’t Overlook the Eyes in Your Hygiene Routine

We’ve come to associate pandemic hygiene with sanitizers, soap, and masks, but our eyes remain one of the most neglected entry points. This has to change.

“Eye care should be integrated into your daily COVID protection habits,” says Dr. Wahi. “Especially with newer variants and rising cases, it’s essential to treat the eyes not just as visual organs—but as parts of the body that need shielding, too.”

From children attending online classes to older adults stepping out for essentials, eye protection must become mainstream, not optional.

The pandemic has taught us that no part of our body operates in isolation. The eyes are connected not just to our nervous system, but to our immune defense as well. Neglecting them can leave us vulnerable in ways we didn’t expect.

And it’s not just about preventing COVID-19. Dry eyes, eye strain, and poor visual hygiene can lead to chronic problems if ignored. Preventive measures now can safeguard your long-term vision health.

Dr. Anurag Wahi, Ophthalmologist, Eye Surgeon and Senior Consultant at Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, Delhi in India

Bathroom habits can reveal a lot about our health. While you may think of your bathroom routines as normal, even small and seemingly unimportant signs could lead to devastating diagnosis. When it comes to periods and menstruation related illnesses, many women are often dismissed regarding their concerns. The notion that pain and discomfort surrounding menstruation is normal and should be tolerated, has stopped many women from getting proper diagnoses.

Diseases like endometriosis, Uterine fibroids, Polycystic Ovarian Disorder/Syndrome (PCOS/PCOD) etc., affect many women worldwide, however the signs and symptoms of these diseases are often ignored or overlooked.

If you've noticed changes in your bowel habits, such as going to the toilet more or less often than usual, it might be time to see your doctor. The Endometriosis Foundation warns that this could be linked to an incurable condition affecting the bowel called Bowel Endometriosis.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis, often shortened to "Endo," happens when tissue similar to the lining inside the womb starts growing outside of it. These growths, called lesions, can spread to many parts of the body. When these lesions affect your bowel or digestive system, it's called Bowel Endometriosis. The lesions can either stay on the surface of your bowel or grow deeper, causing a lot of discomfort and problems. This type of Endometriosis is most commonly found in the lower part of the intestine, where it can make it hard to empty your bowel.

Affecting many women globally, endometriosis is a chronic condition, with 190 million people experiencing it. It can cause extreme pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements, urination etc. The World Health Organization explains that the causes of endometriosis is still unknown and has no cure. The only relief people get is from managing the symptoms with medication and in some cases surgery.

Signs and Symptoms of Bowel Endometriosis

Pain when you have a bowel movement is the most common sign that you might have bowel Endometriosis. In more serious cases, you might even see blood in your poop.

It's important to remember that the signs of bowel Endometriosis can be different for everyone. Some people might only have one or two symptoms, while others might experience many of them all at once.

The symptoms listed below are often linked to bowel Endometriosis, but this isn't a complete list. There might be other signs too:

• Pain when you have a bowel movement
• Pain in your pelvic area
• Changes in how often you go to the toilet, like constipation (hard to go) or diarrhea (loose stools)
• A dull ache, sharp pain, or cramping in your lower belly and/or back
• Swelling in your belly
• Pain during or after eating certain foods
• Pain during sex
• Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement more often or very urgently
• Feeling like you can't completely empty your bowel
• Seeing blood in your poop

When to See a Doctor

If you're having unusual pain that makes it hard to do daily things like go to school or work, or if you notice changes in your periods or bowel habits, think about whether it could be Endometriosis or another problem. It's really important to talk to a doctor right away. When you do, make sure to mention Endometriosis and ask if you need to see a specialist. And remember, you always have the option to get a second opinion if you want.

Being the leading cause of death worldwide, cancer diagnoses can change the trajectory of a person’s life. New cancer stats reveal that an estimate of 2,041,910 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the US, and about 600,000 have been estimated to die due to the disease. As you may know, cancer is a generic term for a lot of different diseases that affect our health. A malignant cancer diagnosis means that there is a rapid growth in abnormal cell growth which can affect various parts of your body.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer causes nearly 1 in 6 deaths globally and had accounted for 20 million deaths in 2020. The question remains, has the advancement in research and public education helped lower cancer cases or recognized any concerning patterns?

New information from Cancer Research UK, looking at 50 years of health data, shows both good and bad news about cancer. On the one hand, the number of deaths from cancer has gone down by more than one-fifth, which is a positive sign. However, the number of people being told they have cancer has actually gone up by 50%, showing a worrying increase in new cases.

More Young People Getting Cancer

One of the most concerning things we're seeing is how much more young people, under the age of 50, are getting cancer. Specifically, for those between 20 and 49 years old, cancer rates have shot up by 23% since the 1990s. Scientists are now working hard to understand why this is happening and what's causing this significant jump in cancer cases among younger individuals. Several factors are being explored as likely contributors to the rise in early-onset cancers:

Obesity, Poor Diet, and Inactivity

These lifestyle choices are strongly linked to the increase. Research into the rise of colon cancer among young people, for instance, revealed that more than a third of those studied were obese. It has been observed that individuals developing cancer at a younger age tend to have significantly higher rates of obesity compared to those diagnosed later in life.

Diet and the Microbiome

The food we eat greatly affects our gut health. It's suggested that outside elements like microplastics or chemicals could be altering this balance, potentially contributing to cancer development. Experts stress how important it is to start healthy eating and exercise habits early. There's also a warning not to forget that certain drinks can be just as risky as unhealthy processed and sugary foods.

Smoking's Declining Role

It's interesting to note that smoking is probably not the reason for the increase in cancer among young people. Experts have actually seen a drop in cancers linked to smoking across almost all age groups. This suggests that while smoking is a known cause of cancer, its decreasing popularity means it's not behind the current rise in cases among younger generations.

Despite more young people getting cancer, Cancer Research UK's report highlights that we are currently in a very positive time for cancer treatment. Thanks to advancements, one in two people diagnosed with cancer are now expected to live for at least 10 years. This is a huge improvement from the 1970s, when only one in four patients reached that milestone, showing great progress in saving lives.