Diabetes can be successfully managed
Ingrid Bloem*, a 53-year-old GEMS member from Cape Town, decided to visit her doctor after she found her vision was becoming increasingly blurry.
Ingrid's doctor inspected her eyes and then said he wanted to do blood tests, including a blood sugar screening for diabetes.
To Ingrid's great shock the results of these tests, when they were ready a few days later, indicated that she suffered from type 2 diabetes. Her doctor reassured her that while type 2 diabetes could be dangerous to one's health it can also usually be successfully managed.
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) on-going effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories with you and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of diabetes this World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2011.
A growing medical problem
The numbers of diabetics in South Africa are growing at a rapid rate and the disease is considered one of the most important healthcare problems facing South Africa today. Diabetes South Africa says that between approximately four to six million people in this country have diabetes and most are unaware that they even have the condition.
There are two main types of diabetes, although by far the majority of people, around 90%, suffer from type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed at a fairly young age. In this form of the disease, the human body makes little or no insulin and most type 1 diabetics need injections of insulin every day to survive. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this medical condition too. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Diabetes South Africa says that most type 2 diabetics are over the age of 40, overweight and do not exercise. Poor diet and a lack of exercise can therefore play an important role in the development of the disease. Many people with type 2 diabetes have other medical problems associated with the illness such as high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, or obesity.
Dangerous
Type 2 diabetes usually takes a long time to develop and is often not diagnosed until later in life. Although most type 2 diabetics do not have to inject themselves with insulin everyday in order to stay alive, as is the case in type 1 diabetes, it can nevertheless be very dangerous. This is because high blood glucose levels in the body for long periods of time can damage parts of the body and lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, retinal damage that can lead to blindness, and other problems. Diabetics can have problems with poor wound healing, which can lead to gangrene that can even require a limb to be amputated.
It is best to identify diabetes early before it can cause damage to the organs of body. Anyone who is concerned that they could have a problem should therefore contact their doctor and have a screening done.
What symptoms should you look out for? The following are typical diabetes symptoms:
In type 1 diabetes especially, the individual may also suffer rapid weight loss. This may also be seen in some type 2 diabetes cases, especially at the onset of the illness.
Management
All types of diabetes are treatable and manageable, but there is no known cure except for a pancreas transplant. Type 2 diabetes can even be avoidable in many cases if an individual follows a healthy lifestyle, eats healthily and exercises regularly. Good lifestyle habits should be encouraged in children as young as possible to ensure they make healthy choices throughout their lives.
The management of diabetes involves careful self-testing of blood glucose levels, education, exercise, proper foot care, meal planning, weight control and medication or insulin use. If you also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, as is often the case with diabetics, these should also be carefully managed and controlled with your doctor.
Lifestyle changes
Cutting out smoking, avoiding fatty foods and foods with high levels of sugars in them, exercising and looking after your health can go a long way to helping you treat diabetes and its associated diseases. Fat concentrated in the stomach region is known to predispose a person to type 2 diabetes, so be sure to eat healthily and cut down your excess weight.
Healthier
It has been two years since Ingrid was diagnosed with diabetes and her doctor is pleased with her progress. She has lost 15kg and her diabetes is well controlled. So is her cholesterol, which was at very high levels when she was first diagnosed. Now she takes medication for her cholesterol and it is normal. Ingrid has been exercising four or five times a week, has cut down on her red meat and is eating plenty of vegetables. Her doctor says she is probably healthier now than most other women her age.
Wake up call
"Now that I am taking care of myself I feel healthier than I have for many years," says Ingrid. "I got a shock when I was first diagnosed but I think that the illness really opened my eyes to the fact that I needed to take steps to look after myself better. I have never paid much attention to my diet and never bothered to get any exercise before. My neglect of my health nearly cost me my life. My diagnosis was a real wake up call and I now do everything in my power to stay healthy. "
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
*The member's name has been changed in order to protect her identity.
References
1. ‘Diabetes', Pubmed Health,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/.
2. Diabetes South Africa website, http://www.diabetessa.co.za/.
3. ‘Living with diabetes', Health24,
http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-808-1662.asp.
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