Did you know that more than 371 million people around the world have diabetes and half of the people with the disease don't even know that they have this dangerous illness?
Also of great concern is the fact that the number of people developing type 2 diabetes is growing at a rapid rate and the disease is considered one of the most important healthcare problems facing South Africa today.
GEMS member Nokulunga Masondo often felt exhausted and was finding it difficult to concentrate at work. Her hands and feet were also sometimes numb and she decided that she should consult her doctor just to make sure these were not signs of a health problem.
Nokulunga had a blood test and, to her great surprise, her doctor diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes after the results of the test came back a few days later. Nokulunga was shocked, but her doctor reassured her that while type 2 diabetes could be dangerous to one's health it can also usually be successfully managed with the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and, if necessary, medication.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin or respond properly to it. Insulin is a hormone protein that you need in your body to convert sugar and other food into the energy needed for daily life. Insulin is produced in the pancreas. It is a very serious condition that can result in a number of dangerous complications. For this reason GEMS encourages its members to learn more about diabetes and its treatment and prevention this World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2013.
Types of diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes these are Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, which some women experience during pregnancy.
Type 1 diabetes is usually caused by an auto-immune reaction, in which the human body's defence system attacks the cells that produce insulin. The reason this occurs is not fully understood, but the result is that people with type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin.
The disease may affect people of any age, but usually develops in children or young adults. People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood. If people with type 1 diabetes do not have access to insulin, they will die.
Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of the disease making up approximately 90% of all cases. The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can occur at any age, but the risks increase as we get older. Type 2 diabetes may remain undetected for many years and the diagnosis is often made when health complications appear, as occurred in Nokulunga's case, or during a routine blood or urine glucose test.
Type 2 diabetes is often, but not always, associated with being overweight or obesity, which itself can cause insulin resistance and lead to high blood glucose levels. People with type 2 diabetes can often initially manage their condition through exercise and diet. However, over time most people will eventually need oral drugs and or insulin to help them control the disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are serious conditions and there really is no such thing as mild diabetes.
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a form of diabetes consisting of high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. It develops in one in 25 pregnancies worldwide and is often associated with complications to both mother and baby. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women with GDM and their children are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Approximately half of women with a history of GDM go on to develop type 2 diabetes within five to 10 years after delivery.
What puts you at risk?
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.
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 every day in order to stay alive, as is the case in type 1 diabetes, the disease 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.
What to watch for
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. 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.
The management of diabetes
All types of diabetes are treatable and manageable, but there is no known cure except for a pancreas transplant. The management of diabetes involves careful self-testing of blood glucose levels, education, exercise, proper foot care (feet can easily become infected), 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.
Monitoring glucose levels
Monitoring your blood sugar is usually a critical part of managing diabetes and may vary depending on your treatment plan. You may need to check and record your blood sugar level once a day or several times a week. Consult your doctor to find out how often your blood sugar should be checked. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range.
Diabetes medication
In most cases, people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes will be prescribed metformin, a diabetes medication that improves your body tissues' sensitivity to insulin and lowers glucose production in the liver. Certain people who have type 2 diabetes also need insulin therapy. Insulin injections are usually self-administered and involve using a fine needle and syringe or an insulin pen injector, a device that looks like an ink pen, except the cartridge is filled with insulin.
Lifestyle adjustments
The doctor will recommend lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and becoming more active. 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 manage diabetes and its associated diseases. Fat concentrated in the stomach region is known to predispose a person to diabetes type 2, so be sure to eat healthily and cut down your excess weight.
Healthy eating is important to those with diabetes. Centre your diet on these high-fibre, low-fat food groups:
Everyone needs regular aerobic exercise, and people who have type 2 diabetes are no exception. It is recommended that approval be obtained from your doctor before starting an exercise programme. The exercise programme can comprise activities you enjoy most such as walking, swimming or biking, and should be at least 30 minutes more than once a week. Stretching and strength training exercises are also important, and you can start slowly and build up gradually.
Prevention
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 following can assist to help prevent type 2 diabetes:
A manageable illness
Nokulunga is today feeling very strong and healthy. She is on medication and is carefully managing her type 2 diabetes with her doctor. She says she has learnt that if you take care of yourself, diabetes can be a very manageable illness and need not stop you from living an active and fulfilled life. So be sure to adopt a healthy lifestyle and go to your doctor to be screened for diabetes if you think you are at high risk of having or developing the disease. It could well save your life.
Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2 diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/subtopic/prevention-diabetes
http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/toolkit/gp/diabetes-misconceptions
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